National Grandparents Day
National Grandparents Day is a secular holiday celebrated in various countries, with official recognition in some, and occurring on various days of the year, either as one holiday or sometimes as a separate Grandmothers' Day and Grandfathers' Day.
History
In the United States, Russell Capper 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 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; 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. 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
Australia
In at least some states of Australia, Grandparent's Day is celebrated annually, on the last Sunday in October.Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, the National Grandparents Day will be celebrated this year on 9th September to honor and express gratitude towards their constant love, care, and support.Brazil
In Brazil, Grandparents' Day is celebrated on July 26.Canada
National Grandparents' Day began in Canada in 1995 but was discontinued in 2014. Motion number 273 submitted in the House of Commons by Sarkis Assadourian 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.
Estonia
In Estonia, Grandparents' Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in September.France
In France, Grandmothers' Day was launched in 1987 by a brand of coffee, part of the Kraft Jacobs Suchard Group. The date is now included in French calendars and is celebrated on the first Sunday in March.Germany
In Germany, Grandmothers' Day was established in 2010 and is celebrated on the second Sunday in October.Hong Kong
Victoria introduced the first Grandparents' Day in Hong Kong in 1990. It is celebrated on the second Sunday in October.Italy
In Italy, Grandparents' Day was established in 2005 and is celebrated on October 2, Guardian Angels' Day in the Roman Catholic Church.Mexico
In Mexico, Grandparents' Day 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 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 county 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" was created in 1964 by the Kobieta i Życie magazine, and popularized from 1965 onwards. It is celebrated on January 21. "Grandpa's Day" is celebrated a day later, on January 22.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
started celebrating Grandparents' Day in 2013, with the date set as the second Sunday in November.Portugal
In Portugal, Grandparents' Day is celebrated on July 26.Spain
In Spain, Grandparents' Day 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 initiated Grandparents' Day in Taiwan on 29 August 2010, on the last Sunday in August annually, shortly before school children would start a new semester.United Kingdom
The celebration was introduced to the UK in 1990 by the charity Age Concern. It has been celebrated on the first Sunday in October since 2008, although it is not widely advertised and has not been as commercially successful as Mother's and Father's Day. Businesses specialising in gifts and greeting cards have started merging the respective grandparents days with Mother's Day and Father's Day to try to boost sales.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.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.
Music of the U.S. National Grandparents Day
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.The National Grandparents' Day Council presented Prill with an award in recognition of his composition: A Song for Grandma and Grandpa.