The origin of this holiday goes back to 1925 when representatives from different countries met in Geneva, Switzerland to convene the first "World Conference for the Wellbeing of Children".
After the conference, some governments around the world designated a day as Children's Day to highlight children's issues. There was no specific date recommended, so countries used whatever date was most relevant to their culture.
November 20 became World Children's Day because the United Nation decided to recognize children, regardless of race, color, sex, religion and national or social origin, the right to affection, love, understanding, adequate food, medical care, free education, protection against all forms of exploitation and growing in a climate of universal peace and brotherhood. However as stated above, each country celebrates and recognizes children on the date they see fit.
In the United States Children’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in June. In Mexico it’s April 30th. In South Korea and Japan it’s on the fifth of May. The second of Sunday of May is for Spain and the United Kingdom. Norway celebrates the 17th of May while Nigeria celebrates the 27th of May. Hungary celebrates the last Sunday of May. Cuba, Panama, and Venezuela celebrate on the third Sunday of July, while Argentina and Peru both celebrate on the third Sunday of August. Indonesia‘s date is July 23, and Costa Rica celebrates on September 9.
The first Saturday of November in South Africa, November 11 in Croatia, and November 14 in India are all Children’s Days.
November 18 is a common day selected for Children’s Day and is celebrated by: the Arab World, Azerbaijan, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Netherlands, Macedonia, Philippines, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago Sweden, United Arab Emirates, and Zambia
The most popular date to celebrate Children’s Day is June 1. The following countries all join in the celebration on this day: Albania, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Benin, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Cambodia Czechia, East Timor, Ecuador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Germany, Guinea-Bissau Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macau, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North Korea North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, São Tomé and Príncipe Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan Vietnam, and Yemen.
This book was a gift to my classroom. Because I have a few students with Mexican relatives and because many of the Children’s Days fall in the summer months, we decided to celebrate the Mexican Children’s Day.
Enjoy!
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