In a world that stands divided by more than just physical borders, there arises a need to stand united. As human beings, we have an innate need and desire to forge friendships based on commonality and a deep desire to feel needed. Unconsciously or subconsciously, we are always looking to feel a sense of belonging. Often, this leads to the formation of groups or clans and results in discrimination based on religion, caste, culture and ideologies. However, before our sense of individuality, we need to stand united not just as a family, with our loved ones, but also with others on a global scale. This is precisely what Global Family Day celebrates. This landmark day is celebrated annually, to remind the people of the United States of America and the rest of the world that we have a responsibility to be respectful and honor our promises to our global families. This landmark celebration takes place on 1st January every year to go beyond narrowmindedness and strife, to develop and foster a sense of understanding and kinship among people of the world. So, one of the questions in your mind might be regarding the background or history of Global Family Day. If it is so, you’re in luck as we are going to brief you on that.
History Of Global Family Day
The concept of Global Family Day emerged from two books which will forever be etched in the memory of mankind. The first is a children’s story, ‘One Day in Peace, January 1, 2000’ which was authored by Steve Diamond and Alan Silverstein. In a capsule, the story envisions a world filled with global peace, harmony, and unity. It speaks about how people choose one particular day, January 1, to put away all differences and celebrate their sense of brotherhood. The book discourages war and the differences which people create to stand apart from others. The other book entitled, ‘Tree Island: A Novel for the New Millennium’ by the American activist and novelist, Linda Grover speaks of how January 1 becomes a momentous occasion for people to join hands together and come together as a global family. The idea of Global Family Day is a relatively new one as it emerged only in the 21st century. However, its meaning and significance are vast and know no bounds in terms of time and reach. You might be wondering how such a day is relevant to you, your family and your children. Well, there are tons of reasons why Global Family Day needs to be celebrated.
What is International Family Day?
Closely tied to Globally Family Day is International Family Day. Both occasions share common ideals and concepts but are separated in terms of their origin. International Family Day can be traced back to the 1990s and was born out of a resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994 as a day to remember the importance of families and societies in the world. The initiative focuses on different aspects of family life and its impact on society. It is celebrated on a worldwide scale on 15th May in many ways. Some set up workshops, while others arrange for seminars and campaigns to spread awareness of the importance of family in our lives.
Significance And Importance of Celebrating Global Family Day
- Bridging Differences- One of the key fundamentals of celebrating Global Family Day is to bridge differences and embrace unity in diversity. The day serves as a reason to celebrate togetherness and experience the idea of shared humanity. Celebrating this day at home will help teach our little ones to overcome petty differences which they encounter and will continue to encounter throughout their school and professional lives. Promoting an atmosphere of love and tolerance is the cornerstone of Global Family Day.
- Encourages an exchange of culture- Celebrating a day of peace in the world allows all people, belonging to different backgrounds to learn and imbibe new traditions and cultures. It provides a steady platform to widen our horizons of thinking so the coming generations will not fall prey to the narrowmindedness of the past. While it is important to remember one’s roots and the past one comes from, it is equally important to learn from past mistakes and rectify them before they occur again in the future.
- Strengthens Family Bonds- This day serves as a perfect excuse for us as parents to set aside time for our young ones. Bonding between mother and child or father and child requires nothing but time and effort. This day provides the best possible reason to work on being a family and celebrating the togetherness of your near and dear ones. Perhaps a meaningful dinner, just like Thanksgiving, but with the idea of being thankful for each other and world peace. A fun way of captivating and engaging little ones on this day is by engaging them in International Family Day crafts like paintings, poster-making and simple drawings. As parents and guardians, we can also reinforce the idea of that momentous day by reciting International Family Day quotes to make the occasion even more meaningful.
- Raising awareness regarding global concerns- The best way to arrive at peaceful resolutions is by presenting a problem in a conducive and healthy environment. Discussions and programmes on certain global concerns can be addressed to spread awareness. Such programmes can be held in schools and other educational institutions to teach children about world problems and how they can be resolved through peaceful methods.
Here at EuroKids, we strive to build a curriculum that is geared towards striking a balance between mind, body and soul. To put it simply, we have our team of experts who take the initiative to ensure the holistic development of your little ones. One of our main outcomes is to turn them into upright and socially responsible citizens of society. This can be achieved by making them aware of days like Global Family Day and International Family Day. If you want to know more about what’s best for your little ones, visit our blog or head down to our closest centre near you.
