An auspicious day to honor grandparents, Grandparents Day is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day in United States and several other countries. As such, this respectable day marks the celebration of all grandparents, who play a significant role in lives of numerous young people and their families. It is not just a day to sell cards and flowers and present them your grandparents, but it is observed for honoring the grass roots that have made efforts to keep the generations continuous. Initiated by the Americas, National Grandparents Day is commemorated mainly for three purposes: honoring grandparents, giving grandparents an opportunity to shower their love for their children's children, and helping children become aware of the strength, information, and guidance older people can offer. Though Grandparents Day is not an age-old celebration, but it sure has an interesting history to narrate. Read further to know about the origin of National Grandparents Day.
History Of National Grandparents Day
The origin of National Grandparents Day can be traced back to 1973 when Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade, a West Virginia homemaker, wanted to declare Grandparents Day as a family day. With this, she campaigned for a national holiday to honor grandparents and make sure that they are not left alone and forgotten. With days of working in several states on creating awareness about the important contributions that seniors have made since times immemorial, she finally succeeded in persuading the President of United States Senate, Jimmy Carter in establishing National Grandparents Day. Later in the same year, Senator Jennings Randolph introduced a resolution in the senate about declaring Grandparents Day as a national holiday.
This day was already an annual celebration in West Virginia, thanks to the Governor Arch Moore. However, Senator Jennings Randolph's resolution did not work in the senate. Thus, Marian McQuade gathered supporters in urging the governors, senators, and congressmen in all fifty states to recognize Grandparents Day. She was successful in getting Grandparents Day announced in 43 states. In February 1977, Senator Jennings Randolph, with the help of other senators, introduced a joint resolution to the senate requesting the president to declare the first Sunday of September after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day.
Hence, National Grandparents Day was born on August 3, 1978 with the then President Jimmy Carter signing the proclamation. The legacy of Marian McQuade is carried on by her children and grandchildren with some of them working on the National Grandparents Day Council. On the other hand, there are people who assert the origin of National Grandparents Day with Hermine Beckett Hanna from North Syracuse, New York who made efforts in getting seniors recognized worldwide in 1961. New York Congressman James T. Walsh recognized Hermine Beckett and her efforts for playing a significant role in establishing National Grandparents Day on February 21, 1990.
The first Grandparents Day was celebrated in
1978. Read this article to know about the history of Grandparents
Day.