Fathers have Father’s Day, mothers have Mother’s Day, but what about the grandparents? Though it isn’t an official holiday, there is a Grandparent’s Day. This year it falls on September 9th, and it offers a great way for families to celebrate the generations.
The first Sunday of September following Labor Day was officially made national Grandparents Day after President Jimmy Carter signed a proclamation on August 3, 1978. Marian McQuaid of West Virginia has been officially recognized as the originator of grandparents day, a day intended to honor grandparents and allow grandparents and grandchildren to strengthen their relationships.
Numerous countries celebrate grandparents day, though some of them separated into grandfather stay and grandmother say are it in Australia, for example, the state of Queensland became the first state to officially celebrate grandparents day on the first Sunday in November of 2010.
In the United States, there is an official grandparents Day song, “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa” by Johnny Prill, and the holiday also has an official flower, the forget-me-not.
Though not as popular or widely celebrated as Father’s Day and Mother’s Day, any family can celebrate grandparents day. Visiting grandparents, sharing memories, and participating in family activities are a great way to spend the day.
