Parents' Day is observed in
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
on May 8 and in the United States (fourth Sunday of July). The South Korean designation was established in 1973, replacing the
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the ...
previously marked on May 8, and includes public and private celebrations. The United States day was created in 1994 under President
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...
. June 1 has also been proclaimed as "Global Day of Parents" by the
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
as a mark of appreciation for the commitment of parents towards their children. In the Philippines, while it is not strictly observed or celebrated, the first Monday of December each year is proclaimed as Parents' Day.
International
The
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
proclaimed June 1 to be the
Global Day of Parents "to appreciate all parents in all parts of the world for their selfless commitment to children and their lifelong sacrifice towards nurturing this relationship".
In the United States
In the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, Parents' Day is held on the fourth Sunday of July. This was established in 1994 when President
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...
signed a
Congressional Resolution
Resolution(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
* Resolution (debate), the statement which is debated in policy debate
* Resolution (law), a written motion adopted by a deliberative body
* New Year's resolution, a commitment that an individual mak ...
into law () for "recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children." The bill was introduced by Republican Senator
Trent Lott
Chester Trent Lott Sr. (born October 9, 1941) is an American lawyer, author, and politician. A former United States Senator from Mississippi, Lott served in numerous leadership positions in both the United States House of Representatives and the ...
. It was supported by members of the
Unification Church
The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, widely known as the Unification Church, is a new religious movement, whose members are called Unificationists, or "Moonies". It was officially founded on 1 May 1954 under the name Holy Spi ...
which also celebrates a holiday called Parents' Day, although on a different date.
Parents' Day is celebrated throughout the United States.
In South Korea
![W carnation4051](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/W_carnation4051.jpg)
In
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
, Parents' Day ( ''Eobeoinal'') is annually held on May 8. Parents' Day is celebrated by both the public and the
government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...
. Family events focus on the parents; popular actions include giving parents
carnations
''Dianthus caryophyllus'' (), commonly known as the carnation or clove pink, is a species of ''Dianthus''. It is likely native to the Mediterranean region but its exact range is unknown due to extensive cultivation for the last 2,000 years.Med ...
. The ceremony to designate Parents' Day as an anniversary and to wear carnations originated in Christian culture in the United States. Western religion, culture, and Confucian ideas combined to make it a traditional holiday. Public events are led by the
Ministry of Health and Welfare and include public celebrations and awards.
The origins of Parents' Day can be traced back to the 1930s. Starting in 1930, some
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
communities began to celebrate Mother's Day or Parents' Day. This tradition was combined with Korea's traditional
Confucianism
Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China. Variously described as tradition, a philosophy, a religion, a humanistic or rationalistic religion, a way of governing, or ...
culture
Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Tyl ...
to eventually establish Mother's Day.
In 1956, the
State Council of South Korea
The State Council of the Republic of Korea () is the chief executive body and national cabinet of the Republic of Korea involved in discussing "important policies that fall within the power of the Executive" as specified by the Constitution. The mo ...
designated May 8 as an annual Mother's Day.
However, the question of Father's Day was discussed
and on March 30, 1973, May 8 was designated as Parents' Day under Presidential Decree 6615, or the ''Regulations Concerning Various Holidays'' (각종 기념일 등에 관한 규정).
When Parents' Day was first established, the entire week with the 8th day was designated to be a week to respect the elderly, but respecting elders in the month of May was abolished in 1997 with October becoming the month designated for respecting the elderly.
In the Philippines
Mothers' Day is traditionally celebrated on the first Monday of December. On this day, children placed pink
cadena de amor on their chest. Children who no longer have mothers place white cadena de amor.
In 1921, Circular No. 33 designating the first Monday every December as Mothers' day was issued, as a response to the appeal Ilocos Norte Federation of Woman's Clubs. During the Philippine Commonwealth Government, then
President Quezon issued Proclamation No. 213, s. 1937 declaring the day designated as Mothers' Day as Parents' Day. This was due to finding petitions to set a special date for Fathers’ Day not advisable as there are already set of numerous holidays set, and deeming it more fitting to celebrate both Mothers' and Fathers' Day together and not apart. In 1980, a proclamation was issued declaring first Sunday and the first Monday of December as Father's Day and Mother's Day respectively. In 1988, the issued presidential proclamation followed the international day of celebration of Father's and Mother's Day which most Filipinos are familiar with. However, then
President Estrada tried to revive the tradition through Proclamation No. 58, s. 1998.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo
In the
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
, Parents’ Day, also called Siku ya Wazazi in
Swahili, is one of the
public holidays
A public holiday, national holiday, or legal holiday is a holiday generally established by law and is usually a non-working day during the year.
Sovereign nations and territories observe holidays based on events of significance to their history, ...
especially celebrated on August 1 each year. This day is devoted to honor the role played by mothers and fathers in the Congolese society and the significance of the family unit.
The origin of this celebration is attributed to
Mobutu
Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga (; born Joseph-Désiré Mobutu; 14 October 1930 – 7 September 1997) was a Congolese politician and military officer who was the president of Zaire from 1965 to 1997 (known as the Democratic Republic o ...
in 1979 who decided to replace
All Saints' Day
All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows' Day, the Feast of All Saints, the Feast of All Hallows, the Solemnity of All Saints, and Hallowmas, is a Christian solemnity celebrated in honour of all the saints of the church, whether they are know ...
, a vestige of the colonial era, with this holiday now dedicated to parents and ancestors in general. Early in the morning, people go to clean up the cemeteries in remembrance of the deceased relatives before giving cards and gifts to their parents.
The main reason for this elevated occasion is that, in the Congo, families habitually tend to be big - six children per woman on average – whereas the worldwide average is less than half that. This accentuates the traditional roles of parents, which is to look after and provide for the family as numerous as it may be. Culturally, parents are not only the individual that gave you birth and brought you up to face this challenging world. They are all those who placed the building blocks of your life.
Thus, this is the unique day consecrated to relax and think of parents with beautiful gifts that make them realize that they are not taken for granted but, in the contrary, are loved and cared for.
Elsewhere
*In India,
Parents' Worship Day is celebrated on 14th February.
See also
*
Father's Day
Father's Day is a holiday of honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society. In Catholic countries of Europe, it has been celebrated on 19 March as Saint Joseph's Day since the Middle Ages. In the United ...
*
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the ...
*
Grandparents Day
Grandparents' Day or National Grandparents' Day is a secular holiday celebrated in various countries; it is celebrated to show the bond between grandparents and grandchildren. It occurs on various days of the year, either as one holiday or someti ...
*
Public holidays in the United States
The schedule of public holidays in the United States is largely influenced by the schedule of federal holidays but is controlled by private sector employers who provide 62% of the total U.S. population with paid time off.
Public holidays with ...
*
Public holidays in South Korea
Public holidays in South Korea each belong to one or more of three categories:
*National day ()
*National flag raising day ()
*Public holiday ()
Each category has a different legal basis. All national days are also flag raising days.
List of p ...
*
List of International observances
Lists of holidays by various categorizations.
Religious holidays
Abrahamic holidays (Middle Eastern)
Jewish holidays
*Chag HaMatzot (Feast of Unleavened Bread – 7 days of consumption of matzo with wine and avoidance of leavened foods ...
References
External links
National Parents' Day Coalition
{{Authority control
May observances
June observances
July observances
Family member holidays
Holidays and observances by scheduling (nth weekday of the month)
Observances in South Korea
Observances in the United States
Spring (season) events in South Korea
United Nations days