_____________________________________________________
What does this holiday celebrate?
"Firstly to promote mutual exchange and understanding among children and secondly to initiate action to benefit and promote the welfare of the world's children." "It was also chosen as the day to celebrate childhood."
_____________________________________________________
Observance of Children's Day around the world
- Argentina: Children's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of August and it's known as Día del Niño.
- Australia: Australia celebrates Children's Day on the 1st Sunday in July every year. Children's Day is a registered trade mark. Universal Children's Day is celebrated on November 20th, and is not associated with Children's Day. This marks the day that Australia adopted this custom. Children's Day is not celebrated in a widespread manner in Australia.
- Canada: Canada's "National Child Day" is held on November 20th each year as enacted in Bill C-371, otherwise known as the Child Day Act, by the Parliament of Canada in 1993 to fulfill Canada's commitment to the United Nations General Assembly's recommendation to observe a Universal Children's Day.Canadian Children's Rights Council It is not a holiday in Canada.
- Central Africa: In Congo, Congo DR, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Chad, Central African Republic, São Tomé and Príncipe Children's Day is celebrated on December 25 to honour all the children there.
- Chile: Children's Day is celebrated the second Sunday of August.
- Colombia: Children's Day is celebrated in the last weekend of April.
- Costa Rica: Children's day is celebrated on September 9.
- Cuba: Children's day is celebrated in on the third Sunday of July.
- Czech Republic: International Children's Day celebrated on June 1.
- El Salvador: Children's Day is celebrated on October 1.
- Former and current Communist and Socialist countries: In Russia, as well as other former Soviet Union states, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, other former or current communist states, Albania, Angola, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic and Slovakia, Ethiopia and Eritrea, Germany, Laos, Republic of Macedonia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, Tanzania, Yemen, Children's Day is celebrated on June 1.
- Germany: During the Cold War, Children's Day (Kindertag) was handled quite differently in West Germany and East Germany. They were held on different dates in these two states. East Germany celebrated Children's Day on June 1 while West Germany celebrated it on September 20. The official names of Children's Day were also different. In East Germany, it was known as "International Children's Day" (Internationaler Kindertag), whereas in West Germany, it was called "World Children's Day" (Weltkindertag). *The customs of Children's Day were also significantly different in West and East Germany. In East Germany, the holiday was introduced in 1950, and was from then held on a yearly basis for the children. On this day of the year, children would typically be congratulated and would receive presents from their parents and did special activities in school, such as field trips and the like. In West Germany, Children's Day did not have such meaning to the children, and was even mostly unknown to many people. *After the reunification of East and West Germany occurred in 1990, the date and name of the event used in the West have become the official ones for the former East as well. This however was not accepted by large parts of the former East German population. Most parents still celebrate Children's Day with their kids on the former date, June 1, and public events pertaining to Children's Day even take place on the old date.
- Guatemala: Children's Day is celebrated on October 1.
- Hong Kong: Children's Day is celebrated on April 4 each year (the same day as the Republic of China (Taiwan) since ROC established the Children's Day on April 4 in 1931. The ROC government combined Women’s Day with Children’s Day on April 4 in 1993, officially calling it Women’s and Children’s Day, making it a day for women, mothers, and children. The practice is still observed by both the Hong Kong SAR Government and the public after the handover in 1997, though this festival has not been a public holiday before the handover.
- Hungary: In 1931, Children's day started although then it was called Children's Week, but since 1950 it has only been a day technically the last Sunday in May. International childrens day is celebrated on the first Monday of October.
- India: In India, Children's Day is celebrated on November 14 every year. This date marks the birth anniversary of independent India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Children's day is celebrated on this day in recognition of his lifelong fondness and work for children. He always regarded all children with affection and love, and was well known for being likeable to children.
- Israel: Children's Day is celebrated on october 19.
- Kazakhstan: Also known as the Day of Children's Safety, Children's Day is celebrated on 1 June.
- Malaysia: In Malaysia, Children's Day is celebrated on the last Saturday of October annually. Primary schoolchildren normally go to school on this day to celebrate Children's Day. The schools that are involved would also organise numerous activities for their pupils.
- Mexico: In Mexico, Children's day is celebrated on the 30th of April.
- New Zealand: Children's Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of March each year in New Zealand. Children's Day provides New Zealanders with a special opportunity to spend time with their children, create positive memories, and take part in fun activities that start new traditions as well as continue old ones. The vision of Children's Day is to see children celebrated, nurtured and treasured by all.
- Nigeria: Children's Day is celebrated on the 27th of May in Nigeria.
- North Korea: North Korean Children's Day is celebrated on June 2. Before 1945, it was celebrated on May 1, but in 1945, it was changed to its current date.
- Peru: In Peru, Children's Day is celebrated on August 17.
- Paraguay: In Paraguay, Children's Day is celebrated on August 16, day of the infamous Battle of Acosta Ñu, where 20,000 thousand men of the Brazilian Army crushed a Paraguayan battle made up of 3,500 children ages six to fifteen - even though Paraguay had been already completely defeated (see more in War of the Triple Alliance). It's a national holiday, used to remember the atrocities the Brazilians committed during the five-year war.
- People's Republic of China: In the People's Republic of China, Children's Day is celebrated on June 1 and is formally known as "the June 1st International Children's Day" When the People's Republic of China was first established in 1949, the State Council (Cabinet) designated a half-day holiday for all primary schools on June 1. This was later made into a full day's break in 1956 with The Announcement by the State Council to make June 1 Children's Day a One-Day Holiday. Schools usually hold activities such as camping trips or free movies on Children's Day to allow students to have fun, and children of civil servants might also receive small gifts from the government. Entrance ceremonies of the Young Pioneers of China (similar to boy scouts in the West) are usually held on June 1 as well. However on June 1, 2008 the day was made even more memorable, as many people remembered the children who died in the earthquake just a few weeks before.
- Poland: Children's Day (Dzień Dziecka, literally "child's day") is celebrated in Poland on June 1. The International Children's Day was introduced in Poland in 1952. It coincides with the beginning of summer and it is usually treated as a holiday, as it takes place near the end of the school year. Schools usually organize special activities for the day of the celebration, and the first week of June is a time of festivities organized in parks and entertainment centers for children. Parents usually buy small gifts for their children.
- Portugal and former colonies: In Portugal, and also at some of its former colonies - Guinea-Bissau, Macau, Cape Verde, East Timor, Angola - the Children's Day is celebrated on June 1.
- Romania: In Romania the Day is celebrated on June 1. This is a yearly highlight for the children. On this day, one typically receives congratulations and presents from one's parents and sometimes does special activities in school, such as field trips and the like.
- Singapore: October 1 is the day which Singapore officially celebrates Children's Day, a similar event celebrated every year is Youth Day which is celebrated on the first Sunday of July each year. Children in Singapore do not have to attend school on this day.
- Slovakia: In Slovakia, the day is called International Children's Day and is celebrated on June 1. Children get a free entrance to a zoo and some other atractions.
- South Korea: In South Korea, 5th of May is officially recognised as Children's Day.
- Sri Lanka: Universal Children's Day is celebrated on the 1 October. In 2008, this day was a holiday because it coincided with Ramazan, a Muslim festival. In Sri Lanka, it is a custom to take children somewhere special on this day. In schools, children are given sweets, and in nursery's and Grades 1 and 2 presents, while at home, various delicacies are made, and presents are given.Some Children's Parks will be free for children on October 1st in Sri Lanka. In 2008, Peter Hayes, the British High Commissioner for Sri Lanka, hosted a party- a fun filled event complete with free rides, a magic show and food for over a hundred children from nearby orphanages and from the streets. They were given gifts as well.
- Sweden: The International Children's Day is celebrated on the first Monday in October, though there are very few actual celebrations.
- Taiwan: The Republic of China (Taiwan) designates April 4 as Children's Day (traditional Chinese:), pursuant to Article 5 of the Order to Implement Commemoration Days and Holidays. Despite not being a legal holiday, schools often hold special activities in order to celebrate the occasion. Due to pressure from parents that demanded to accompany their children in the celebration, the ROC government recognized Women’s Day with Children’s Day on April 4, 1993. Thus, the celebration is technically called Women’s and Children’s Day.
- Trinidad: Universal Children's Day is celebrated on the 1st Monday in October.
_____________________________________________________________
resource link:
__________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
How can I Celebrate this holiday?
- It's Party Time! - Every Holiday deserves a party right?! So get ready for your next party by shopping for the lastest supplies to make your holday a real hit. You'll find fun stuff for children and adults.
- Send Free Internet Invitations! - If your ready to get together with your friends don't forget to invite them by email with these fun Internet Invitations. They are always fun & FREE!
- Blog with us about it! - We have a blog called "Everyday is a Holiday" so visit our pages and talk with us about this holiday and how you celebrated it. We would love to know.
___________________________________________________
