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Grandparents Day forgotten national holiday
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Fourteen-years have passed since National Grandparents Day was established in Canada and many people are still unaware of its existence.
Sunday, September 14, 2009 was National Grandparents Day, yet the only reminder in Huntsville of this national holiday was found on a kitchen calendar. There were no cards, radio or television commercials, or signs of any kind that indicated there was a national holiday that weekend. Even the local Dairy Queen sign gave no hint as it so often does for other special occasions such as Father’s and Mother’s Day.
The first Sunday after Labour Day is designated for National Grandparents Day, and Canada officially began celebrating this holiday in 1995.
“I had no idea there was such a holiday,” said one grandparent who was visiting her two grandchildren in Huntsville.
When discussions took place in the early 90s regarding a designated grandparents day, Mr. Sarkis Assadourian, Head of the Parliament's Canadian-Armenian Friendship Group, read the following Motion Number 273 in the House of Commons:
“…the government should consider designating the second Sunday in September of each year as grandparents day in order to acknowledge their importance to the structure of the family in the nurturing, upbringing and education of children.”
President Jimmy Carter signed a proclamation in 1978 describing the purpose of National Grandparents Day as a holiday “…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.”
National Grandparents Day was established in 1978 when Marian McQuade of Oak Hill, West Virginia, a housewife, thought it was important to give recognition to the wisdom and heritage of the elderly.
McQuade’s initial inspiration for launching National Grandparents Day came from her concern for the welfare of the elderly in nursing homes.
President Carter and The United States Senate recognized McQuade as the founder of National Grandparents Day, but the national holiday can be traced as far back as 1961 when Hermine. B. Beckett, of North Syracuse, New York first began the process.
The official song of National Grandparents Day is “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa” by Johnny Prill, and the official flower is the Forget-Me-Not.
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