Grandparents' Day

Grandparents' Day or National Grandparents' Day is a secular holiday celebrated in various countries; it is celebrated to show the bond between grandparents and grandchildren. It occurs on various days of the year, either as one holiday or sometimes as a separate Grandmother's Day and Grandfather's Day[lower-alpha 1] (see below for dates by country).[2]

Grandparents' Day
Observed byVarious countries
TypeInternational
DateVarious
Frequencyannual

History

In the United States, Russell Capper (age 9 in 1969) sent a letter to President Nixon suggesting a special day be set aside as Grandparents' Day. On June 12, 1969, he received a letter back from Rose Mary Woods (Personal Secretary to the President) reading, "Dear Russell, Thank you for your letter to President Nixon. Your suggestion regarding a Grandparent’s Day is appreciated, but the President ordinarily issues proclamations designating periods for special observance only when a Congressional resolution authorizes him to do so. With best wishes, Sincerely, Rose Mary Woods Personal Secretary to the President".

Since the aforementioned letter, Marian McQuade was recognized nationally by the United States Senate – in particular by Senators Jennings Randolph[3] and Robert Byrd – and by President Jimmy Carter, as the founder of National Grandparents Day. McQuade made it her goal to educate the youth in the community about the important contributions seniors have made throughout history. She also urged the youth to "adopt" a grandparent, not just for one day a year, but rather for a lifetime. Co-founder Cynthia Bennett, who worked for Marian's husband, contributed by writing letters of verification.

In 1973, Senator Jennings Randolph introduced a resolution to the senate to make Grandparents' Day a national holiday. West Virginia's Governor Arch Moore had proclaimed an annual Grandparents' Day for the state, at the urging of Marian McQuade. When Senator Randolph's resolution in the U.S. Senate died in committee, Marian McQuade organized supporters and began contacting governors, senators, and congressmen in all fifty states. She urged each state to proclaim their own Grandparents' Day. Within three years, she had received Grandparents' Day proclamations from forty-three states. She sent copies of the proclamations to Senator Randolph.

In February 1977, Senator Randolph, with the concurrence of many other senators, introduced a joint resolution to the senate requesting the president to "issue annually a proclamation designating the first Sunday of September after Labor Day of each year as 'National Grandparents' Day'." Congress passed the legislation proclaiming the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents' Day and, on August 3, 1978, then-President Jimmy Carter signed the proclamation.[4][5] The statute cites the day's purpose: "...to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children, and to help children become aware of strength, information, and guidance older people can offer".

Grandparents' days around the world

International

In 2021, Pope Francis declared World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, to take place annually on the fourth Sunday of July, neighboring the memorial of Sts. Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. [6]

The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life promotes two ways for Catholics to celebrate. The first is by celebrating Mass for the grandparents and the elderly. The second is to visit those who are alone. A plenary indulgence is granted for those who participate in either of these activities.[7]

Australia

In at least some states of Australia, Grandparents' Day is celebrated annually, on the last Sunday in October.[8]

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, the National Grandparents Day is celebrated on 9 September to honor and express gratitude towards their constant love, care, and support.

Brazil

In Brazil, Grandparents' Day (Portuguese: Dia dos avós) is celebrated on July 26.

Canada

National Grandparents' Day (French: Journée Nationale des Grands-parents) began in Canada in 1995. Motion number 273 submitted in the House of Commons by Sarkis Assadourian in 1995 read:

That, in the opinion of this House, the government should consider designating the second Sunday in September of each year as Grandparents' Day in order to acknowledge their importance to the structure of the family in the nurturing, upbringing and education of children.[9]

Estonia

In Estonia, Grandparents' Day (Vanavanemate päev) is celebrated on the second Sunday in September.[10]

France

In France, Grandmothers' Day (La fête des grands-mères) was launched in 1987 by a brand of coffee (Café Grand'Mère), part of the Kraft Jacobs Suchard Group. The date is now included in French calendars and is celebrated on the first Sunday in March.[11]

Germany

In Germany, Grandmothers' Day was established in 2010 and is celebrated on the second Sunday in October.

Hong Kong

Junior Chamber International Victoria[12] introduced the first Grandparents' Day in Hong Kong in 1990. It is celebrated on the second Sunday in October.

Italy

In Italy, Grandparents' Day (officially Festa Nazionale dei Nonni, "National Grandparents' Feast") was established in 2005 and is celebrated on October 2,[13] Guardian Angels' Day in the Roman Catholic Church.

Japan

In Japan, Respect for the Aged Day was established as National Holiday in 1966 and is celebrated on the third Monday of September.

Malta

The Republic of Malta celebrates 'Grandparents Day' annually on the second Sunday of October since 2013. It was created by Philip Michael Chircop, founder of the Grandparents Malta Foundation (VO/0869), and made official through a decree by the Maltese Parliament in 2014. Chircop has been an advocate for grandparents' visitation rights, and received a Medal for Service to the Republic in 2021 for his efforts.[14]

Malta also participates in the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly declared in 2021 by Pope Francis.

Mexico

In Mexico, Grandparents' Day (Spanish: Día de los Abuelos) is celebrated on August 28.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, "Opa en Oma Dag" was created in 2004 and falls on June 4. It is not widely celebrated and to many people in the Netherlands it is completely unknown. The day was envisioned as a day for grandparents/great-grandparents to spend time in enjoyable activities with their (great-)grandchildren, in order to strengthen the bond between the generations and to increase respect and appreciation for senior citizens in general. One idea that has been promoted is the "adoption" of a grandmother or grandfather - for the day, or for life.

Philippines

In the Philippines, Grandparents' Day is celebrated every second Sunday of September. The country started celebrating this event in 1987.

Grandparents' Day in the Philippines is also a family day. Many commercial establishments organize special events and give special privileges for the elderly people: free concerts, meal discounts, free medical checkups, flowers, etc.

Poland

In Poland, "Grandma's Day" (Polish: Dzień Babci) was created in 1964 by the Kobieta i Życie magazine, and popularized from 1965 onwards. It is celebrated on January 21. "Grandpa's Day" (Polish: Dzień Dziadka) is celebrated a day later, on January 22.[15]

Russia

Russia celebrates Grandparents' Day on October 28. The Grandparents' Day started being celebrated by the ancient slavs. The day was supposed to consolidate the connection with ancestors and bring together all generations.

Singapore

Singapore started celebrating Grandparents' Day in 1979, a year after the U.S. started. It is celebrated on the fourth Sunday in November.

South Sudan

South Sudan started celebrating Grandparents' Day in 2013, with the date set as the second Sunday in November.

Portugal

In Portugal, Grandparents' Day (Portuguese: Dia dos avós) is celebrated on July 26.

Spain

In Spain, Grandparents' Day (Spanish: Día de los abuelos y las abuelas) is celebrated on July 26, the feast day of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, parents of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Taiwan

The Ministry of Education (Republic of China) initiated Grandparents' Day (祖父母節, Zǔfùmǔ Jié) in Taiwan on 29 August 2010, on the fourth Sunday in August annually, shortly before school children would start a new schoolyear.[16]

United Kingdom

The day was introduced to the UK in 1990 by the charity Age Concern but it has not been widely accepted by the British public. It has been celebrated on the first Sunday in October since 2008,[17]

United States

Congress passed the legislation proclaiming the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents' Day in the U.S. and, on August 3, 1978, then-President Jimmy Carter signed the proclamation.[18]

Forget-me-not

The flower of the U.S. National Grandparents Day is the forget-me-not which blooms in the spring. As a result, seasonal flowers are given in appreciation to grandparents on this day.[19]

Music

In 2004, the National Grandparents Day Council of Chula Vista, California announced that A Song for Grandma and Grandpa by Johnny Prill would be their official song of the U.S. National Grandparents Day holiday.[20][21][22]

The National Grandparents' Day Council presented Prill with an award in recognition of his composition A Song for Grandma and Grandpa.[23]

See also

Notes
  1. Grandma's Day was celebrated for the first time in Poland in 1965.[1]

References
  1. "Dzień Babci wymyślono w Poznaniu". wp.pl. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
  2. Johnson, Johanna (2012). For the Life of laetitia. orange park: johanna. p. 4.
  3. Congressional Record, February 21, 1977, Joint Resolution S.J. Res. 24, 95th Congress, 1st Session
  4. "Proclamation 4580—National Grandparents Day, 1978 | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu.
  5. "Carter, Jimmy. Greeting to Johnny Prill. 2010. National Grandparents Day. Web". Archived from the original on 2018-03-06. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
  6. Mares, Courtney. "Pope Francis proclaims World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2021-01-31.
  7. Giribaldi, Edoardo (20 July 2023). "Elderly people symbolize the transmission of faith from age to age". Vatican News. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  8. "About". NSW Grandparents Day. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  9. "Debates (No. 247)". Debates of the House of Commons: 35th Parliament, 1st Session. House of Commons of Canada. October 25, 1995. Retrieved May 11, 2008.
  10. "Riigikogu passed Act providing Grandparents' Day". Riigikogu. January 21, 2010.
  11. KJS lance la 13e Fête des grand'mères », Stratégies, 17 février 1999
  12. "JCI Victoria". www.vjc.org.hk.
  13. ""Istituzione della Festa nazionale dei nonni", Legge 31 luglio 2005, n. 159" (in Italian).
  14. https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/113787/republic_day_honours__maltas_great_decorated_by_president
  15. "Dzień Dziadka". Retrieved 2014-01-21.
  16. (in Chinese) 緣起與理念 教育部樂齡學習網
  17. Grandparents Day has moved to Sunday October 5, 2008 - Age Concern 2008-02-26
  18. Jones, Meghan (2017-08-28). "This Is Why Grandparents Day Was Never Meant to Be a Commercial Holiday". Reader's Digest. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  19. Spotlight, Maureen Wendt Senior. "SENIOR SPOTLIGHT: National Grandparents Day". Lockport Union-Sun & Journal. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  20. "Gratitude for grandparents". The Roanoke Times. 2014-09-04. Archived from the original on 2015-01-13. Retrieved 2015-01-13. It is appropriate, then, that the official flower of Grandparents Day is the forget-me-not. "A Song for Grandma and Grandpa," written by Johnny Prill, was named the official song of the holiday in 2004.
  21. Coleman, Marilyn J.; Ganong, Lawrence H. (2014). The Social History of the American Family: An Encyclopedia. SAGE Publications. p. 641. ISBN 978-1452286150. Retrieved 2015-01-21. Since 2004, there has been an official Grandparents Day song, "A Song for Grandma and Grandpa", by Johnny Prill, a singer-songwriter in the folk-polka traditions and a lifelong volunteer performer at nursing homes.
  22. Barber, Lorin (2011). 28 Tips to Become a Great Grandpa. Cedar Fort, Inc. p. 36. ISBN 978-1462100552. Retrieved 2015-01-21. For example, the first Sunday after Labor Day is designated "Grandparents Day" in the United States. The official "Grandparents Day" has an official song, "A Song for Grandma and Grandpa," and an official flower, the forget-me-not.
  23. "National Grandparents Council. Johnny Prill Wins National Songwriter's Award. National Grandparents Day. 14 August 2004. Web".
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