When is Grandparents’ Day?

Grandparents’ Day lands on different dates in different parts of the world. Read on to find out more about the history of this day and how it’s celebrated. As Ogden Nash said, “When grandparents enter the door, discipline flies out the window.”

But however much rebellion these rabble-rousers inspire, they also bring with them unequaled magic, care, and wisdom.

So, we can most certainly see why Grandparents’ Day should be celebrated — to honor the unique bonds that tie these generations together.

We’ll take you through the details of how and where this occasion is celebrated — and why it matters so much.

Read on!

In this article: 📝

Is there an official Grandparents’ Day?

There most certainly is!

And it’s celebrated in a number of countries throughout the world.

Here’s a quick spin around when Grandparents’ Day happens in different parts of the world.

• United States: First Sunday after Labor Day
• United Kingdom: First Sunday in October
• Australia: Last Sunday in October
• Bangladesh: September 9th
• Brazil, Portugal, and Spain: July 26th
• Estonia and the Philippines: Second Sunday in September
• Hong Kong: Second Sunday in October
• Italy: October 2nd
• Japan: Third Monday in September
• The Netherlands: June 4th
• Russia: October 28th
• Singapore: Fourth Sunday in November
• South Sudan: Second Sunday in November
• Taiwan: Fourth Sunday in August

Who started celebrating Grandparents’ Day?

In the United States, Jacob Reingold, a renowned spokesperson for the elderly, started a day in 1961 to honor grandparents at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale.

The idea was to commemorate the specific role that grandparents play in the lives of up-and-coming generations.

From there, the concept really began to gather steam.

In the 1970s, the baton was passed to Marian McQuade, a West Virginia activist who focused her energies on the well-being of senior citizens.

McQuade reached out to business and political leaders to get their support for an official day that celebrated grandparents.

This resulted in West Virginia’s first Grandparents’ Day in 1973.

Then the whole project went national:

When did they start Grandparents’ Day?

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a proclamation that made Grandparents’ Day official in the United States!

In other countries, Grandparents’ Days have their own histories.

But in 2021, Pope Frances also declared an International World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

It was celebrated on July 24th in 2022.

Why do we celebrate Grandparents’ Day?

While we don’t need much reason to celebrate the beloved elderly members of our communities, there is a depth of purpose to the Grandparents’ Day celebrations.

Primarily, it’s about supporting aging members of our communities so that they feel connected and valued within our societies.

It’s about celebrating the wisdom handed to us by older generations and using it to better understand today’s challenges.

By building bridges between generations, we are able to gain insights into our current dilemmas and navigate obstacles collectively.

When is Grandparents’ Day 2023?

In the United States, Grandparents’ Day 2023 is on September 10th.

What do you do on Grandparents’ Day?

The main purpose of this day is to show grandparents (and anyone who you consider an honorary grandparent) that they’re loved and appreciated.

How you do that is up to you!

Here are our favorite ideas for Grandparents' Day:

It can be really fun to get kids involved by making gifts and cards.

Baking can be a hot favorite too!

Older kids might want to record some of their grandparents’ stories or interview them about how to tackle the global issues that we face today.

In the United States, the flower of Grandparents’ Day is the forget-me-not.

So it might be a nice idea to give a bunch as a gift.

Drawing a picture of the flower is a lovely idea too!

For new grandparents, this day can be extra special as you commemorate their new role.

Cooking a meal, visiting a restaurant, or treating them to their favorite activity, like seeing a movie or going to the local botanical gardens, can all go a long way.

The important thing is to connect — and there are so many ways to do that.

However you celebrate, we wish you a happy Grandparents' Day honoring the vintage gems in your life!