Children’s Day

It’s the Day of the Child in Mexico!

"Children's Day", as an event, is celebrated on various days in many places around the world, in particular to honor children

Due to the celebration of the Revolution on November 20, in Mexico, Children's Day is celebrated on April 30. And in some schools they give the day free or let the kids wear shorts and a colored shirt.

Children’s Day has been a big deal in Mexico with parties, piñatas, outings, and gifts since its 1925 inception. How big a deal? The last Wal-Mart 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.

Known as “El Dia del Niño”, Children’s Day is marked by cancellation of classes in schools, though the kids do go to school and indulge in different festivities arranged for the occasion. This occasion is considered to be one of the happiest and most anticipated days of the year, as it celebrates and treats children. To know more about Children’s Day celebrations and traditions in Mexico, glance through the lines that follow.

Children’s Day Celebrations In Mexico

 Though Children’s Day is marked on April 30 in Mexico, festivities begin well before the date and continue even after the festival is over. Parks, organizations and businesses arrange a large number of special events for children, such as games, treats, bolos (bags full of candy) and other activities. Churches too hold various events for children, wherein volunteers engage in mission work and services for the welfare of the kids.

 For kindergarten and elementary school kids, it is yet another day without studies. Regular classes are replaced by big parties that include food, candies, piñatas and rides. Various traditional games are also played, “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” being the most common of all. Stores and markets are flooded with presents and candies targeting children of all ages. Some even distribute to the kids for free. The local amusement parks are converted into colorful, decorated full-blown fiesta. One can witness flying banners, swinging piñatas, recorded and live music, great puppet shows, outdoor games and toy areas.

 A common culture followed in Mexico on Children’s Day is the singing of a song while enjoying a chocolate drink at breakfast. The chocolate drink is stirred with a molinillo by rolling it between the palms of the hands. The kids sing the song while stirring the drink. The verse of the song gets a little faster every time it is sung

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

"It is important to note that The United States of America is one of only two countries in the world that have not ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. As of November 2007, 193 countries have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, (UNCRC). The only other country that has not ratified the UNCRC is Somalia."