What day is it today?

With the Jubilee celebrations this weekend, Media Measurement’s senior research analyst Joanna ponders whether Britain has overlooked another important event.

I rarely update my Facebook status anymore, the novelty of it wore off pretty quick. Sharing cultural/social inventions with my international friends is far more exciting.

We had Mother’s Day in March and now that Father’s Day is on its way, I am wondering, what about Children’s Day? Huh? Oh yes, it does exist, and thirty something countries, including my native Poland, celebrate it today. It evolved from the 1925 ‘World Conference for the Well Being of Children’ held in Geneva, Switzerland.

Officially called an ‘International Children’s Day’, it is practically a holiday, with children getting small gifts and taking part in festivals, competitions and outdoor activities instead of spending the day in the classroom. What is more, on that day in Poland the Parliament members are replaced by children.

Why not add another happy occasion to the British calendar? I am definitely going to mention it at my son’s nursery that is nota bene celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this Friday.

In some places, the Children’s Day falls on different days and often relates to some national events of the past, e.g. April 23rd – Turkey (the Grand National Assembly of Turkey was established that day in 1920). Canada, Finland and Egypt, for instance, celebrate Universal Children’s Day by United Nations recommendation on November 20th. Not to mention, Japan has two Children’s Days, one for girls (March 3rd) and one for boys (May 5th).

Another ‘holiday’ I like is International Women’s Day (March 8th)J Funny enough, I have never checked when International Men’s Day is…

Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Children’s Day…There is also Grandmother’s Day (January 21st), Grandfather’s Day (January 22nd)…You might like a Name Day, especially if you are not keen on your Birthday and admitting your age…but that is a whole ‘nother story.