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Children's Day

Universal Children's Day

In 1954 the United Nations General Assembly suggested that all nations should observe a Universal Children's Day as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children and of activity promoting the welfare of the world's children.

The date of 20 November marks the day in 1959 when the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989, and is often the day chosen by countries as their own designated day to observe Universal Children's Day.

State governments are responsible for passing legislation providing a day and name appropriate for their compliance with the United Nations General Assembly resolution. United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights / UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

United Nations - Universal Children's Day observance around the world

Australia

Australia celebrates Children's Day on the fourth Wednesday of October. In 2008, it falls on the 22nd of October. It is part of a week long celebration of "Children's Week". Although a large majority of the population know that it is children's week there are very few celebrations and gifts are rarely given out

Argentina

Children's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of August.

Brazil

Children's Day is celebrated on October 12, which is also the day of Our Lady of Aparecida, a public holiday in Brazil.

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, Children's Day hasn't been celebrated in a manner that may let know the community know about the importance of Child Rights. However on November 20 YCM(Youth Change Makers) plans to inform people of Children Day by holding huge children competitions and fashion show, although it will not be considered as a holiday.

In 1996-2000 Bangladesh government observed national child day at the birth day of the fahter of nation Bangabandhu Shekh Mujibur Rahman on 20th March. But in BNP reigme(2001-2006) they stopped this celebration and observed only universal child day following by UNICEF.

Canada

Canada's "National Child Day" is held 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

On Congo, Congo DR, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Chad, Central African Republic, São Tomé and Príncipe Children's Day is celebrated in this country on the December 25 to honour all the children.

Chile

Children's Day is celebrated the second Sunday of August.

Colombia

In Colombia Children's Day is celebrated in the last weekend of April.

Costa Rica

Children's day is celebrated on September 9 in Costa Rica.

Cuba

Children's day is celebrated in Cuba on the third Sunday of July.

Czech Republic

The International Children's Day is celebrated on June 1.

El Salvador

In 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. This list includes 25 countries which regained independence from USSR, seceded from Yugoslavia Federation, as well as Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia after their respective splits.

Germany

During the Cold War, Children's Day (Kindertag) was handled quite differently in the two states. The date was different (GDR: June 1, FRG: September 20), the name was slightly different (GDR: "International Children's Day" ("Internationaler Kindertag"), FRG: "World Children's Day" ("Weltkindertag")), and most notably: the customs.

In the GDR, the holiday was introduced in 1950, and was from then on a yearly highlight for the children. On this day of the year, one typically received congratulations and presents from one's parents and did special activities in school, such as field trips and the like. In the FRG, Children's Day did not have such meaning to the children, and was even mostly unknown to many people.

Since the affiliation in 1990, the date and name used in the FRG have become the official ones for the former GDR as well. This however was not accepted by large parts of the former GDR population, so that still many parents celebrate with their kids on the former date, June 1, and even Children's Day public events take place on the old date.

Guatemala

In Guatemala Children's day is celebrated on the first day of October.

Honduras

In Honduras Children's Day (Día del Niño) is celebrated on September 10.

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.

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 as he was very fond of children. Children's day is celebrated on this day in recognition of his lifelong passion and work for children.

Israel

Children's Day is celebrated on April the 9th.

''Japan

May 05 is Children's Day, called in Japanese; the festivities used to be called Boy's Day , called in Japanese , to distinguish it from Girls' Day, called , in Japanese , March 3). Both of these days are marked with a lot of activities for children On this day, children display samurai swords, armor, and Kintarō dolls. Two important symbols of Children's day are carps and irises. Traditionally, families fly carp kites with a carp representing each son.

Kazakhstan

Also known as the Day of Children's Safety, Children's Day is celebrated on 1 June.

Malaysia

Children's Day is celebrated on 1 October.

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. 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.

North Korea

North Korean Children's Day is celebrated on June 2 (국제 아동절). Before 1945 it was celebrated on May 1, But in 1945, it was changed to its current date.

South Korea

In South Korea, 5th of May is officially the Children's Day.

Pakistan

In Pakistan, Children's Day is celebrated on November 20. There is no holiday on this day but it is observed by NGO working on Child Rights.

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" (Simplified Chinese: 六一国际儿童节; pinyin: lìuyīguójì’értóngjié). 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 Zoo and some other atractions.

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 in the 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 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.

Turkey

In Turkey, Children's Day has been celebrated on April 23rd since 1935. It originated from the first gathering of Grand National Assembly on April 23, 1920, during the Turkish Independence War.

After the Ottomans were defeated during World War I, Turkish land had been occupied by other European countries such as England, Italy and France. Ataturk, an Ottoman commander, broke his ties with the dying Empire and started the war for independence against Allied forces and the old Ottoman regime. After years of fighting Turkey won full independence.

Turks consider Ataturk to be "The Father of Modern Turkey". After the war, Ataturk refused the role of Sultan or King and established a modern Republic instead. He gifted April 23rd to the children for the country, so that they would cherish the independence that cost so much, but at the same time walk the path of "Peace at Home, Peace in the World" On April 23rd children from around the world come to Turkey. They're hosted by families who have children of a similar age. Festivities last over a week and the visiting and Turkish children spend a lot of time together. Many children, often not even speaking the same language, create lifelong friendships. Several of the events are broadcast on television, showing the children in their traditional national outfits, dancing singing and exchanging gifts. The United Nations participates the events.

Every year on April 23rd, the seats of Parliament are held by children, and a child becomes President for a day. The child President delivers a speech on national television.

United States of America

Children’s Day observations in the United States predate both Mother’s and Father’s Day.

The celebration of a special Children’s Day in America dates from the 1860s and earlier.

In 1856, Rev. Charles H. Leonard, D.D., then pastor of the First Universalist Church of Chelsea, Mass., set apart a Sunday for the dedication of children to the Christian life, and for the re-dedication of parents and guardians to bringing-up their children in Christian nurture. This service was first observed the second Sunday in June.

The Universalist Convention at Baltimore in September, 1867, passed a resolution commending churches to set apart one Sunday in each year as Children’s Day. The Methodist Episcopal Church at the Methodist Conference of 1868 recommended that second Sunday in June be annually observed as Children’s Day.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1883 designated the “the second Sabbath in June as Children’s Day.”

Also in 1883, the National Council of Congregational Churches and nearly all the state bodies of that denomination in the United States passed resolutions commending the observance of the day. About this time many other denominations adopted similar recommendations.

Chase’s Calendar of Events cites Children’s Sunday and notes that The Commonwealth of Massachusetts issues an annual proclamation for the second Sunday in June.

Numerous churches and denominations currently observe the second Sunday in June including the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Church of the Nazarene.

Children's Day, was proclaimed by President Bill Clinton in October 2000. He declared that it be held on November 16th.

"National Child's Day" was proclaimed by the President of the United States of America, George W. Bush, as June 3, 2001 and in subsequent years on dates in early June. In 2003, he proclaimed June 1. In 2004, he proclaimed June 6th. In 2005, he proclaimed June 5th. In 2006, he proclaimed June 4th. In 2007, he proclaimed June 3rd. The White House Proclamation by the President of the United States of America, 2001

Nowhere in any of the proclamations did the President refer to the United Nations or the UN Resolution about Universal Child Day. It is important to note that The United States of America is one of only two countries in the world that have not ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. As of November 2007, 193 countries have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, (UNCRC). The only other country that has not ratified the UNCRC is Somalia. United States position on the UNCRC

In 2007, Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich issued a proclamation proclaiming the second Sunday in June as Children's Day. The mayors of Aurora and Batavia, Illinois, also issued proclamations.