China Celebrates Children's Day June 1

I know what you're thinking. Isn't every day Children's Day? I mean, really. How hard is it to be a child? They get their meals cooked, their clothes washed, their beds changed, and toys. Lots of toys. But in China, children are celebrated yearly on June 1. The whole country celebrates with cards, presents, special foods, parades, and other activities. Although schools remain open, children do not attend class and are free of homework. Students participate in a wide variety of activities to strengthen allegiances to their country, have fun, and take part in, and join youth organizations such as the Communist Youth League.

The International Children's Day (ICD) is celebrated in numerous countries, usually (but not always) on June 1 each year.

The ICD had its origin in the World Conference for the Wellbeing of Children in Geneva, Switzerland in 1925. It is not clear as to why June 1 was chosen as the ICD: one theory has it that the Chinese consul-general in San Francisco (USA) gathered a number of Chinese orphans to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival in 1925, which happened to be on June 1 that year, and also coincided with the conference in Geneva.

June 1 has since been observed as the ICD by numerous countries, especially by Communist countries; in the Western world the ICD is usually celebrated on other days of the year (if at all), and there is often little public awareness about these celebrations. (See the section on Germany below for further discussions.) Consequently there is sometimes a misperception that June 1 as the ICD was a Communist invention. Nonetheless, in recent years even some groups within the United States started observing the ICD on June 1.

Children's Day is a time of festivity for Chinese youngsters. The occasion is marked by the Children's Day Celebration honoring model students from around Taiwan and the Peoples Republic of China and by numerous parent-children activities sponsored by government and civic organizations. Thus, the day not only lets the kids become king for a day, but also helps to strengthen the bond between parents and their children.

In recent years, children's issues have gained greater attention in Taiwan, leading to the founding of several child welfare groups. With passage of the Children's Welfare Law, the rights of young people have been given legal protection so that the future leaders of the nation can live a life free from worry and uncertainty.

International Childrens' Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. Lucky kids!

( Add your comments )

Recent Entries:
· Get out your sewing projects!
· National Sewing Month
· National Eye Exam Month?

[ READER COMMENTS ]

1

Adam said:

I love butts i have a small 1 and i like it how u like that

Posted at 02:18 PM, on January 16 2008

2

Adean said:

Great web... :)

Adrean

Posted at 07:01 AM, on May 7 2008

3

said:

Nice Facts!

Jenny Yu

Posted at 06:19 PM, on December 4 2008

4

said:

wow i wish i live in china

Posted at 07:50 PM, on February 9 2009

China Celebrates Children's Day June 1

Add your comments...

We kindly ask that you keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Abusive or inappropriate comments or comments that are specifically promotional in nature may be removed.