In order to be here today reading this article about Grandparents' Day, you needed to have, in addition to a mother and a father, 2 grandparents, 4 great-grandparents, 8 great-grandparents, 16 great-great-grandparents and 32 great-great-grandparents . It is said that it was necessary to have 4.094 ancestors during the last 11 generations to be born.
There are many people with many stories that deserve not to be forgotten.
Importance of honoring them
The importance of our ancestors is something that perhaps we do not often think about, they are our links with our roots and traditions. Fortunately we have the calls “anniversaries” , which are days that are dedicated to celebrating, celebrating, commemorating and honoring people and events.
This date invites us to celebrate and honor those who gave life to our fathers and mothers. It is through our grandparents that we children and grandchildren have been able to learn more about where we come from; of our customs and traditions, as well as the family legacy and the stories that we all like to hear around the table as a family, or from a distance on a phone call or on a Zoom.
We tell you about the dates on which it is celebrated in some Latin American countries and some information about this special day to celebrate our beloved grandparents.
Origin
There is no single story about the origin of Grandparents Day.
For some countries in the world it has a religious origin that commemorates San Joachim and Santa Anna. According to Catholic tradition, they were the fathers of the Virgin Mary, that is, the grandparents of Jesus.
Grandfather's Day in Mexico
Also known as “Grandparents' Day” ” is celebrated on August 28th, XNUMX of each year. In contemporary Mexico we do not find a single piece of information that can offer us an answer about the origin of the celebration, there are several versions.
The most widespread that you will find if you search online is that the celebration was introduced during the government of Abelardo Díaz (1932-1934) and was ratified during the mandate of Lázaro Cárdenas, who was President of Mexico from 1934 to 1940.
A curious fact is that Lázaro Cárdenas, who was the Mexican president who nationalized oil, was also affectionately known as “Tata Cárdenas” ; in indigenous Otomí language “I” means grandfather .
Grandfather's Day in the USA
In the United States it is known “National Grandparents Day” and is celebrated in the first sunday of september , after “Labor Day” or “Labor Day".
This celebration is not one of the 11 official holidays in the United States.
Jimmy Carter was the president who signed the proclamation after the United States Congress passed legislation commemorating “National Grandparents Day” in 1979.
But the history of Grandfather's Day in the United States began a little earlier.
Marian Mcquade ; A woman advocate and activist for retirees in the United States, she was able to see the importance of having a date that would allow grandparents to return some of the much they contribute to the family unit, and the special relationship they have with their grandchildren.
Around 1973 he began his work alongside civil organizations, religious congregations, companies and political leaders to promote the date to be recognized as an official celebration to share time with grandparents, and not as a commercial celebration.
But then…..
When is Grandparents' and Grandmothers' Day?
That depends on the country you are in.
The date of Grandparent's Day is not the same around the world, what does not change is that in most countries it is a celebration that seeks to bring families together around grandparents to spend a happy moment.
It is an opportunity to honor the people who are or have been a fundamental part of our lives.
En Argentina It is celebrated throughout the country July 26th of each year. A curious fact is that they celebrate it three times a year, in addition to Grandparents' Day, they celebrate Grandmother's Day on the second Sunday of November and Grandfather's Day on the third Sunday of August.
Colombia celebrate grandparents fourth sunday in august . In Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua the celebration is on July 26.
Here you have a list with the celebration dates.
Grandfather's Day in Latin America
| Country | Grandfather's day |
|---|---|
| Argentina | July 26th |
| Bolivia | August 26th, XNUMX |
| Chile | October 15 |
| Colombia | Fourth Sunday of August |
| Costa Rica | October 1st |
| Cuba | July 26th |
| Ecuador | October 31 |
| United States | First Sunday after Labor Day |
| Guatemala | July 26th |
| Honduras | Last Sunday of August | July 26* |
| Mexico | August 28th, XNUMX |
| Nicaragua | July 26th |
| Panama | July 26th |
| Paraguay | July 26th |
| Peru | August 26th, XNUMX |
| Uruguay | 19 June |
| Venezuela | May 29th |
| Dominican Republic | May 29th |
About Grandfather's Day
In Mexico
Mexicans celebrate those they affectionately call "grandparents" on August 26th every year. This day is also known as “Senior Citizens Day” , which is a term used in formal contexts.
Family gatherings around grandparents on this day are, along with Mother's Day, one of the holidays with the greatest tradition in some parts of Mexico.
The importance of grandparents for the culture of Mexico is reflected in the vision that indigenous peoples had about the origin of the universe, also known as cosmogony. They are figures of respect; important for the preservation of family and town memory.
Quoting Mariola Elizabeth Vicente Xiloj in your article “The Legacy of the Grandmothers and Grandfathers: the Mayan cosmogony in the events of life” :
"Another element that makes it up is the Mayan Calendar that marks the agricultural cycles and that make up the spiritual life. Likewise, the Ajq ́ijab ́ They are spiritual leaders who guide people and communities in the face of adversity or happiness. The mission of this community service is the gift of the Protectors and the na ́b ́e Qati ́ qamaam, Grandfathers and Grandmothers who created everything. The ceremony through the Sacred Fire is guided by the Ajq ́ij to restore balance, and sometimes it is necessary to undertake the path to Xibalba to die and continue living. This entire cosmogony, based primarily on respect for all creation, guides the physical, emotional, and spiritual life of the indigenous Mayans.
In U.S.
El Grandparents Day in the United States it has an official flower “Forget-Me-Nots ” or “Forget-Me-Not”. They symbolize love and lasting bonds.
It also has an official song “A Song for Grandma & Granpa” , performed by Johnny Prill, a Grammy-nominated composer.
Although the date is not an official holiday in the US, a large number of Latino migrants residing in the United States have helped to keep this family tradition alive.
An example of the above was that of the group of 40 grandmothers and grandfathers who from Veracruz and Guerrero their relatives were able to reunite in North Carolina. Some of them had not seen each other for more than 30 years.
This 2023 Grandparents Day in the United States will be celebrated on Sunday, September 17.
When it happens? Father's Day
Happy Grandfather's Day! We leave you 5 ways to say grandmother and grandmothers in indigenous languages*, so you can create your own phrases to celebrate grandfather and grandmother on their day
Maya: NOOL
Nahuatl of the Huasteca: Hueyitata
Tseltal: Mom
Guerrero Mountain Mexican: Velito
Zapotec: bixhooze´biida´
*Source: Mexico Unknown
Last update August 28, 2024
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