What is Grandparents' Day?
A guide to when and where Grandparents’ Day is celebrated around the world, and how to treasure memories made with grandparents in 2021
Did you know that there is an official day to celebrate grandparents?
Read on to find out when and why grandparents should be celebrated and how to treasure memories made between grandparents and grandchildren
During the last 18mths of living with the coronovirus pandemic in the UK, several lockdowns have meant that the majority of grandparents and grandchildren have been separated for prolonged periods of time. In a survey by Gransnet in 2020, 41% of their users felt less close to their grandchildren due to the restrictions, and 28% of these were worried about rebuilding relationships once lockdown was over.
Whilst we should never need an excuse to celebrate the older generation, Grandparents’ Day is the perfect opportunity to make memories with them that can be treasured every day of the year.
What is Grandparents' Day?
Grandparents’ Day in the UK is a day to celebrate Grandparents and be thankful of the contribution they make to our society. Whilst it isn’t as widely celebrated as Mothers’ and Fathers’ Days, it is increasing in popularity and is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the bond between grandchildren and their grandparents.
When is Grandparents' Day celebrated around the world?
The USA was one of the first countries to introduce Grandparents’ Day. They celebrate it in September on the first Sunday after Labor Day. In 1978, President Carter signed a proclamation with the 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.
In the UK, Grandparents’ Day was introduced by the charity Age Concern in 1990. It has been celebrated on the first Sunday in October since 2008.
In 2021, Grandparents’ Day in the UK will be celebrated on 3rd October.
In January 2021, Pope Francis announced the institution of World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, to take place each year on the fourth Sunday in July close to the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents’ of Jesus. This day shall “remind us that old age is a gift and that grandparents are the link between the generations, to pass on to the young the experience of life”
And in the rest of the world, Grandparents’ Day is celebrated at the following times of the year:
- March (1st Sunday) –France (La fête des grands-mères)
- June 4th – Netherlands (Opa en Oma Dag)
- July 26th – Brazil, Honduras, Portugal and Spain (held on the feast of Anne and Joachim)
- August 28th – Mexico (Dia del Abuelo)
- Sept 9th – Bangladesh
- Sept (2nd Sunday) – Estonia (Vanavanemate päev) and Philippines
- Sept (3rd Monday) – Japan (Respect for the Aged Day)
- October 2nd – Italy (Festa Nazionale dei Nonni)
- October (2nd Sunday) – Germany (Grandmothers’ Day) and Hong Kong
- October (last Sunday) – Australia
- November (fourth Sunday) – Singapore
The date itself doesn’t matter as the importance of the event is the celebration of the older generation and what they bring to their family and the community.
How to treasure memories made with Grandchildren
Whilst every family has their own special way of making memories, scrapbooking is definitely our favourite way to store them, helping us to treasure them every day, and scrapbooks are not just for photos. Here are our top four tips for Grandparents’ scrapbooks.
1.After a day spent making memories together, why not spend some creative time drawing pictures of the activities you have been enjoying. You can create something special to keep in a scrapbook and you can reflect and feel thankful of the time spent together.
2.Scrapbooks can also be used to record less tangible memories, such as funny stories and conversations between grandparents and grandchildren that are often over time forgotten.
3.When you are apart, memories can fade. A scrapbook can be used to create an edited version of your memories: choose only the most treasured photos, drawings and stories to show highlights of the time spent together and they can preserved forever. and treasured every day you are apart.
4.Grandparents love to share and show off how proud they are of their grandchildren to their friends and other family members. Browse our collection of grandparents and family scrapbooks and why not have one personalised to give as a Grandparents Day or Christmas gift in 2021.
What favourite memories do you have with your grandparents or grandchildren that you would preserve forever in a scrapbook? We’d love you to share them with us.
