Although Children's Day is a highly anticipated date in many Latin American countries, it is not as exciting in the United States. The official date for celebrate the children In the USA, it does exist; it's the second Sunday in June. However, it's little known and perhaps also rarely celebrated.
Here we tell you when it is, why it's rarely celebrated, and what you can do to celebrate with your family whether you're in the US or far away.
The official date of Children's Day in the United States
The United States celebrates Children's Day on second Sunday of June of each year It's funny because in this month, they also celebrate the Father's Day, which is the Sunday following the children's celebration.
The celebration was officially recognized in 2001 by President George W. Bush. However, the history of this day, which celebrates children, goes back a long way.
Children's Day in the USA: a little history
Children's Day in the United States has several landmarks, perhaps the most significant and those that led the celebration to what we know today are the following:
early history
>>> In 1856, Charles Leonard, a Reverend from the state of Massachusetts, began the practice of dedicating a special day to the children of his community. He originally named this day the “Rose Day” (Rose Day) and later the name changed to “Flower Sunday” (Flower Sunday). These names are possibly due to a custom of that time of decorating churches with flowers. Years later, it would be known simply as “Children's Day” (Children's Day in English).
>>> 1925 The International Conference on Child Welfare is held in Geneva, Switzerland, where June 1st is proclaimed “International Children's Day” The United States joined the countries that welcomed this proclamation.
>>> In 1954, the United Nations (UN), of which the United States is a member, recommended that its members recognize the November 20th , the Universal Children's Day , currently recognized by the UN as World Children's Day It is a date that commemorates the anniversaries of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959) and the approval of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989).
The hungry child must be fed, the sick child must be cared for, the child in difficulty must be helped, the delinquent child must be rehabilitated, and the orphan and the abandoned must be protected and helped.
Eglantyne Jebb, British activist and founder of Save the Children, during her speech for the Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1919)
Contemporary
>>> 1982 Ronald Reagan, then president of the USA, issued the proclamation 451 for August 8 to be declared National Children's Day as a way to recognize the value and importance of childhood.
>>> 1995 Bill Clinton proclaims October 8 of that year as the National Children's Day (National Children's Day).
>>> In 2001, George Bush issued a proclamation returning Children's Day to June. The date has remained the day to celebrate children.
>>> In 2025, the official date of celebration will remain the second Sunday in June, and will fall on June 15.
Why isn't it a day celebrated as much as in other countries?
There's no clear reason for this, but it may have to do with the fact that children's celebrations in the United States are numerous and centered more on birthdays, Halloween, Christmas, and school festivals. Children's Day simply failed to catch on as a national tradition.
For Latinos in most Latin American countries, Children's Day, today recognized by some as Girl and Boy Day , is a particularly widespread celebration. In Mexico, it's celebrated on April 30th, and schools often organize festivals and give gifts so children can enjoy and celebrate their childhood. Colombia celebrates the last week of April, and Argentina celebrates the second Sunday in August.
How does the United States celebrate Children's Day?
The first thing to say is that it is not one of the official US holidays, that is, it is not a mandatory day of rest and, as it always falls on a Sunday, schools do not usually organize special celebrations.
Celebrations are usually held with family and include activities such as eating in parks and picnics. It's a day that encourages reflection on the importance of healthy childhoods, children's well-being, and their rights.
The United States is a country where community building is a deeply embedded cultural trait. Cooperation and donations are deeply rooted among Americans, and Children's Day could not be left out of this tradition of solidarity. Hospitals like the St. Jude They organize activities to provide resources for girls and boys.
Some consulates of Latin American countries in the United States often honor children by organizing activities at the consular offices, so that children who are far from their countries of origin or roots can celebrate their day.
Should we celebrate it more?
Maybe so, it depends on each family and the community. Celebrating children is a way to strengthen family unity and bonds. It recognizes the value of childhood in our present and as a shaper of the future. It can be a way to recognize them and offer them moments of joy and hope in a world that needs it so much.
What if we start with our Latino and Hispanic communities?
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