Happy Dia de el Niño

It’s the Day of the Child in Mexico!

Schools are closed today, families are planning mini-celebrations, piñatas in the evenings for the kids. 

Children’s Day has been a big deal in Mexico with parties, piñatas, outings, and gifts since it’s 1925 inception. How big a deal? The last Walmart advertising flier devoted the center 6-8 pages to Christmas-like displays of toys and games – this in a country where most children in working families receive just a couple of gifts for Christmas instead of the mountain of presents north of the border kids have come to expect.

Now here’s an interesting thought, while Children’s Day was being celebrated (usually on the second Sunday of June) by 1860 in the United States, the event has now disappeared in most states. (Some might say that every day is Children’s Day in the US.) Meanwhile by Parliamentary Act, Canada adopted the November 20 custom of Child Day in 1993.

Many countries around the world fete their children on November 20, the date chosen as Universal Children’s Day in 1954 by the United Nations. George W. Bush proclaimed November 20 to be Children’s Day – but it still didn’t enjoy a renewal of popularity.

Mexican kinder children dress up to represent a variety of countries to honor the Universal Children’s Day, and then take a walk around town to share their view of world peace with others.

UNICEF has declared an International Children’s Day on a variety of dates ranging from March 5, April 23, June 1 and even a couple of dates in December – Take your pick!

No matter what country we are in, there’s no question – our children are our future. We need to celebrate them, see to their needs, make sure they all have the opportunity to have clean water, good education and a safe environment.