When is Grandparents Day 2021! – Everything You Need To Know About The Day
Grandparents are simply one of the most important figures in the family organization chart and truly deserve a day when it is celebrated that they exist and are worthy of our love, and respect. Although Grandparents Day is not necessarily a holiday, it is still one of the most important days we have to celebrate in the year.
However, some folks still do not know the existence of this day like they do with Father’s Day and Mother’s Day. If you are one of them, here’s a descriptive detail of what and when Grandparent’s Day is!
Table of Contents
What is Grandparents Day?
Your Grandparents deserve special recognition as the senior members of your family. Did you know that there is a day set aside each year only to honor Grandparents and their love?
It is a day that is dedicated to celebrate and acknowledge all the important contributions made by grandparents to the well-being and upbringing of children of their family. This day is a great opportunity for the family to show their gratitude and admiration for the older generation of the immediate family.
Date of Grandparents Day:
It is an opportunity to treasure the connection we have with our Grandparents and spend some quality time with our family. We celebrate this day annually on the first Sunday after Labor Day. This year, this date falls on the 12th of September, 2021.
Down Below are the Dates for happy Grandparents Day. You can check how many days are until this holiday and its future dates.
| DATE | HOLIDAY | DAY | DAYS TO GO |
| September 12th, 2021 | Grandparents Day 2021 | Sunday | 83 days |
| September 11th, 2022 | Grandparents Day 2022 | Sunday | 447 days |
| September 10th, 2023 | Grandparent’s Day 2023 | Sunday | 811 days |
| September 8th, 2024 | Grandparents Day 2024 | Sunday | 1175 days |
| September 7th, 2025 | Grandparent’s Day 2025 | Sunday | 1539 days |
| September 13th, 2026 | Grandparent’s Day 2026 | Sunday | 1910 days |
| September 12th, 2027 | Grandparents Day 2027 | Sunday | 2274 days |
How to Celebrate Grandparents Day?
Are you thinking about a way to celebrate and surprise your Grandparents on their special holiday in September? If yes, then you should know that there are a lot of things one can do to make this honorable day special, including buying them a gift.
You can even buy your Grandparents a card, call them to make them realize how blessed you are to have them in your life or visit them as they probably crave your presence on that day more than anything.
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Ideas for Grandparents Day
Here are some great ideas you can use to celebrate Grandparent’s Day and make it even more special:
1. Give your Grandparents a Visit:
We know that you want to learn about some creative ideas and gift options to give to your grandparents, or an activity you guys can do together. But, we will get to that part later.
Firstly, we want to emphasize that more than anything, your Grandparents probably just want to see you on the day. They want you to make time for them by putting all your chores and work aside from your kids’ activities and have a face-to-face visit with them at their homes. They probably just want to hear you talk about your lives and for you to listen to their stories.
We are sure that you will not regret spending some quality time with them. So, if it is possible for you, you should visit your Grandparents on their special day.
2. Prepare a Family Tree with your Grandparents:
Many people feel awkward talking to members of the older generation. They may not look forward to this honorable day or won’t want to visit their Grandparents because they are not sure what to say or do.
If this is the case with you, why not set aside that particular Sunday in September 2021 to prepare and organize your Family Tree with your Grandparents? Ask them about different members of your family and start from there. You can even ask your Grandma or Grandpa to share stories of their past, their life struggles, and record that information.
Look through the sacred family photos and ask them to identify the people in the photographs. This will surely make them feel included and can be a way of strengthening your bond with them.
3. Give them a gift:
Think thoroughly before you choose a gift to give to your Grandparents on this special day.
For example, if your grandparents live in a nursing home, research appropriate gifts. They may have little storage space already and not a lot of room for big presents. We think that it is a good idea to call ahead and ask the staff at the nursing home for suitable gift ideas.
Secondly, even if your Grandparents enjoy great health and live on their own, they may not be a fan of huge presents and be at a point in life where they want to downsize. Your Grandparents may not wish to clutter their home with large-sized gifts, or won’t want you spending so much money on expensive gifts. If these things define your Grandparents, then you should consider giving them a gift card, a worthy experience instead.
Lastly, always make sure that your Grandparents can enjoy the food you bring on their special day. Take into consideration any dietary restrictions your Grandparents may have to follow in their lives before you give them food-related gifts. Think beforehand if they have diabetes, or are they on dialysis, or can they chew the food you give them?
4. Surprise them by completing a home project:
Do your Grandparents find it hard to maintain their house? If yes, then why not celebrate Grandparent’s day by completing a home project for them? Ask them about small renovations or projects that need to be done. You can always ask this a week earlier so it’ll give them some time to think about what needs to be done.
Perhaps they need to dispose of a couple of things, like old paint cans or broken electronics that they don’t need anymore. Maybe they need some help retrieving some stuff out of the attic or off the high shelves of the house. Or, maybe they wish to repaint their room or TV lounge. However, you need to be sensitive about this act because your Grandparents are weak or old now, which doesn’t mean they want someone to call their home dirty or outdated.
5. Cook with your Grandparents
Does your family too have a particular recipe or cuisine that they reserve only for special occasions? Has this recipe been passed down to the younger generations? If yes, why not spend that day learning about the specific ingredients and techniques that make that special dish?
Your Grandparents will be thrilled to know that you are excited about learning the traditions of the family. If you don’t have a special recipe like that, then you can just cook any dish you like and spend some quality time with your Grandparents by enjoying delicious dishes.
6. Take your Grandparents out for the Day:
If your Grandparents are still mobile, you can take them to a museum or a park. Take them out for Lunch or Dinner, or drive around an ‘old neighborhood’ that reminds them of their childhood. Ask them about their past ventures and friends.
Ask your Grandparents if they want to go watch a game, movie, or if there is anything they might want to check off their bucket list. Perhaps your Grandma wants to get her hair and nails done, or your Grandpa always wanted to visit the Yankee Stadium? How amazing would they feel if you’ll be able to assist your Grandparents to fulfill their lifelong wishes!
Importance of Grandparents Day:
It has great importance, as this day urges all the younger generation to take the time to honor their grandparents and elders living in their community. This special day is celebrated annually on the first Sunday after Labor Day.
It provides us with a great opportunity to honor our beloved grandparents and celebrate the connections between generations. Although this day is not considered a Federal Holiday, It is still a national observance celebrated each year with countless love.
This special holiday has three most important purposes:
- To honor our Grandparents.
- An opportunity for grandchildren to show love and gratitude to their grandparents.
- To help children of the nation to become aware of respect, strength, and guidance older people can offer them.
How to Celebrate Grandparents Day amid Coronavirus Pandemic?
Do your grandparents live far away and you can’t visit them on their special day? Or, are you one of those families that are practicing social distancing to reduce the spread of Coronavirus?
As important it is to celebrate this day with your loved ones, we should take into account the Covid-19 situation in the country. One clear thing is we should be really careful since we can be a source of contagion, putting our Grandparents at great risk.
We know that these ideas are no substitute for the quality family time we can spend face-to-face, but they may help you make this day more memorable and exciting!
1. Cook a meal and eat ‘together:
Ask your Grandparents to share their favorite dish’s recipe with you, gather all the ingredients required, and do a video call where both the households come together and prepare the favorite meals. This way, you and your Grandparents can sit down ‘together, and enjoy your favorite dishes, and bond via video chat.
2. Send them a gift via Mail:
Drop a care package for your Grandparents to surprise them with your love. Everyone adores a surprise mail on their special day, especially when it’s a box full of exciting presents and goodies they love. You can give them a warm sweater, some digital photographs which they can hang on their fridge, or a handmade card to show your gratitude and love to them.
3. Make a montage of Videos and Photos:
Another thing you can do to make your Grandparents feel special surprises them with a loving video. In the video, you can edit some videos and photos of yourself with your grandparents, include short clips of our family sharing memorable moments of the past, or be a little creative by composing a song that will interpret all the family members in honor of grandparents.
4. Conduct an interview:
Special occasions are a great excuse to talk to our elder ones that may not come upon a regular day. You can video call them and create a fun list of questions and games, and then have the kids interview their grandparents. Be sure that you include such questions that prompt memories, memorable family moments, personal values, and passions they have adopted.
The Origin of Grandparents Day in the United States:
It is celebrated each year in the United States of America. The day was originated by a 1978 proclamation by former President Jimmy Carter.
The big push to celebrate this day came in the 1970s when a West Virginian female named Marian McQuade started a respectable campaign to gain support for the observance of Grandparents only. She works for the West Virginia Commission on the Nursing home licensing board and Aging.
She petitioned for a holiday that would encourage all the families to visit their Grandparents living in nursing homes and said that this would be a great opportunity for grandparents to bond with their grandchildren, talk about their lives, and their family’s history.
After a couple of year’s hard work and contacting senators, governors, and congressmen of the United States, she finally received a phone call from the White House when her proclamation became official. It was first celebrated in the year 1979.
When Marian McQuade passed away, she had 43 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
When is Grandparents Day Celebrated in Mexico?
Grandparent’s Day in Mexico is celebrated on August 28th. This day is annually observed by the citizens and was inspired by a similar holiday that is celebrated each year in the United States on the Sunday after Labor Day.
Mexicans designed to follow their US neighbors and inaugurated their special day, celebrated on August 28th. Even though Mexican Grandparents Day is less popular than the US National Holiday of this day, many charity organizations and commercial parties hold this special event at hospitals and nursing homes to honor the elder generation of the country.
History of Grandparents Day in Mexico:
Extended family and family relations are very important in Mexico. Grandparents often live quite close to their grandparents or if not, in the same house. They are considered a very integral part of the family and as a result, are a huge part of their grandchildren’s daily lives.
National Grandparents Day was conceived for the first time when a West Virginian female named Marian McQuade of Oak Hill started a campaign to gain support for the observance of Grandparents. She served on the West Virginia Commission on Aging and the Nursing home licensing board and dedicated most of her time to the elderly.
Due to her efforts and various petitions for this holiday to come to life, she finally received a phone call from the White House US when her proclamation became official. It was first celebrated on September 9th, 1979.
The Mexicans followed the US suit and started celebrated this day, considering it’s a great opportunity for grandparents to bond with their grandchildren, talk about their past, share their stories and their family’s history with the younger generation.
Celebration of Grandparents Day in Different Countries:
It is a memorial day that is dedicated to all the grandparents to honor them and show gratitude towards them. This day is joyfully celebrated in many countries around the world, with the difference in the name, date, and motivation.
Celebration in Different Countries:
- Brazil:
In Brazil, It is celebrated on the 26th of July.
- Canada:
The celebration of this day was established in Canada in 1995, after being approved by its Parliament. It is celebrated on the second Sunday in September of each year.
- Argentina:
In Argentina, This day is celebrated on the 26th of July.
- Bolivia:
‘The Day of the Elderly’ is celebrated on the 22nd of August, in Bolivia.
- Colombia:
It is celebrated on 16th August in Colombia.
- Cuba:
In Cuba, this day is celebrated on the 26th of July.
- Costa Rico:
This day is celebrated in Costa Rico on the 1st of October each year.
- United States of America:
In the US, It is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day.
- Spain:
It is celebrated in Spain on the 26th of July each year.
- France:
This special day is celebrated in France on the first Sunday in March annually.
- Italy:
In Italy, Grandparent’s Day is observed on October, 2nd.
