History of Parents' Day

Parents' Day History

That Parent's Day was not there even two decades back would come as a surprise to many. Yet it is a fact that it was only in 1994 that the holiday got an official acceptance in the U.S.A.

It is hard to pinpoint the exact time when the idea of having a Parent's Day was really born. However, the holiday can be said to stem from the eternal human desire to honor and appreciate parents - those special beings upon whom lie the foundation of a new generation, whose enormous effort results in the creation of a better species of humankind that can show a new direction to the world.

In the U.S.A., Parent's Day was born out of a united effort of several religious, civic and elected leaders, who felt the need of an occasion to promote responsible parenting in the society, to highlight the important roles parents have in the successful raising of their children and to uphold the ideal parental role models for the benefit of the new generation.

Parent's Day was officially established in 1994 with the sincere efforts of the then US President Bill Clinton. During his presidential term in White House, Clinton felt that despite having a Father's Day and a Mother's Day that honored fathers and mothers individually there existed a void. Raising children in a proper way requires the presence and combined endeavor of both parents and hence there needed to be an occasion that appreciated parents collectively. The President strived to establish Parent's Day and this was realized when he signed into law a resolution for "recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children." This resolution was cohesively adopted by the U.S. Congress. It would establish the American celebration of Parent's Day on the fourth Sunday of every July.

Today, Parents' Day is observed in the U.S. annually on the fourth Sunday of every July. It is also celebrated in many other countries such as the Republic of Korea, Vietnam and India. Irrespective of where it is held, it is an occasion for children to express their gratitude and appreciation for parents and acknowledge their untiring efforts in bringing them up.

The tradition of celebrating the parents’ day is relatively new. But within few years of time the whole world has thoroughly adopted the culture of celebrating the day with joy and pleasure. Even though the parents deserve reverence on each and every day but the notion of remembering their sacrifices for their children at least once a year with plenty of affection and love has got the recognition in Europe. On that note European countries have also started observing the day from 2011. However Europe thought it in different way. The celebrations are being held in May. The main man who is responsible to bring the custom into existence in Europe is Marcel De Baukeleer, general secretary of Parent’s Network Flanders vzw. He was the man who took the initiative and organized the occasion. The culture of observing the day is slowly but surely spreading in the youth of Europe as well.