World Emoji Day 2018: Are You Using Your Favorite Emojis Right?

We use emojis in everything, from texts and emails to tweets and Instagram posts. Since the tiny images are part of our everyday lives, it’s only fair that they’re honored with their own holiday. Say your thanks for having that perfect smiley face to explain your mood by celebrating World Emoji Day on July 17.

The best way to show your appreciation is by learning what your favorite emojis actually mean and how they’re supposed to be used, according to one of the largest emoticon databases, Emojipedia.

1. Smiley Face With Tears

A lot of people use this popular emoticon when something is so funny that they’re crying, but it’s actually meant to represent tears of joy. Say you’re so excited about something that you can’t help but tear up, that’s when this emoji is meant to be used.

2. Open-Mouthed Crying Face

To go along with the last one, this is the one that’s actually often used when someone is so happy they’re crying up a storm. When in actuality, it’s supposed to show just regular heavy crying.

3. Woman With One Hand Lifted

Trying to showcase that you’re feeling yourself, your hair, your new outfit or whatever it may be? Or just trying to be sassy to someone? Yeah, that’s not actually what this emoji is. It’s none other than an icon for an information desk woman, who’s essentially tipping her hand and asking if you have any questions for her to answer.

4. Flame/Tulip-Shaped Icon

No, this isn’t some strange fire with a white line in it. It’s a name badge and the shape is meant to be a tulip, not a flame. The shape was chosen because it’s often used for name badges in kindergartens in Japan.

5. Woman With Hands On Her Head

Sometimes you forget to do something and you just remember and you need an emoji to show that. Or you did something completely wrong or embarrassing and think this emoji of a woman with her hands on her head is for that. It’s not. This emoticon is a human version of the OK symbol.

6. Man With Arms Crossed Beneath Him

Once in a while, you come across an emoji and just don’t even know what to do with it at all. This is one of those emojis. But we’re here to let you in on the secret: this is a person bowing very deeply. It can be used to express an apology.

Of course, if the sender and receiver both understand what the one’s trying to say with the emoji, correct usage or not, then go right ahead. Once the emojis are out there in the world, they become open to interpretation.

So, go ahead and send out an all-emoji social media post on this holiday, which is celebrated on July 17 because it’s the date used on the calendar emoji. Oh, and make sure to use #WorldEmojiDay in your post so others can find it and try to decipher it.