International Children’s Day, celebrated on June 1st, is recognized as a festive occasion for children. It is a time for children to enjoy playtime and receive meaningful gifts from their loved ones.
Understanding International Children’s Day
Historical Background
In the early hours of June 1, 1942, Nazi Germany surrounded the village of Lidice (Czech Republic), capturing 173 men, 196 women, and children. Here, they brutally massacred 66 individuals and sent 104 children to concentration camps, resulting in the deaths of 88 children in gas chambers, while 9 others were taken to serve the Nazis. The village of Lidice was left desolate.
Vietnam was the first country in Asia and the second in the world to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Two years later, on June 10, 1944, Nazi forces besieged the town of Oradour (France), herding 400 people, including many women and over 100 children, into a church and setting it ablaze in a horrific manner.
To commemorate the hundreds of innocent children brutally murdered by the Nazis, in 1949, the International Democratic Women’s Federation decided to designate June 1st each year as International Day for the Protection of Children. This aimed to hold governments accountable for children’s well-being and to advocate for a reduction in military spending to increase funding for education, protection, and care for children. Since 1950, June 1st has been celebrated as Children’s Day.
In practice, June 1st is primarily celebrated in a few dozen countries with former socialist regimes. Vietnam, as a socialist nation, chose June 1st to mark International Children’s Day. China and the former Soviet Union also adopted this date to celebrate children and to organize programs for children’s rights protection.
International Children’s Day Around the World
In 1954, to encourage countries to remember and protect children’s rights, the United Nations proposed World Children’s Day to be celebrated on November 20 each year.
Significant events related to children have occurred on this date: the Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child were both signed on this day (1989), with over 191 countries ratifying it. Vietnam was the first Asian country and the second in the world to sign this Convention.
Although November 20 was proposed, the United Nations allows member nations to celebrate their own Children’s Day on different dates. Some countries, such as Canada, Australia, Pakistan, and Egypt, commemorate this day on November 20.
International Children’s Day is a day for parents to express their boundless love for their children.
International Children’s Day in Vietnam
Vietnam is the first country in Asia and the second in the world to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a legal document that comprehensively addresses children’s rights based on the principle that children have the right to care, protection, and special assistance.
In our country, right after gaining independence, June 1 and the Mid-Autumn Festival (15th day of the 8th lunar month) have truly become festive occasions for children nationwide. The first International Children’s Day (June 1, 1950) occurred during a challenging period of our resistance against French colonialism. Nonetheless, President Ho Chi Minh always remembered the children across the nation and sent congratulatory letters to young children.
He wrote: “I love you all very much. I promise you that when we drive out the French invaders and achieve victory, the Government and I will work hard to ensure you gradually have enough to eat, play, learn, and be happy….”
Since then, every year during International Children’s Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival, children across our country joyfully anticipate receiving congratulatory letters from Uncle Ho. Uncle Ho was always deeply concerned, teaching children to become good citizens, with the five teachings for youth becoming essential educational content for the Ho Chi Minh Pioneer Youth Organization.
Many people share that everyone has different childhood experiences, but the times of International Children’s Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival always hold sweet memories of a pure childhood. No matter where we go or what we do, we always remember that childhood. Therefore, let us create beautiful memories for children, allowing them to play and enjoy their happiness.
How Different Countries Celebrate International Children’s Day
In Vietnam, June 1st is also an important holiday, a festival for children nationwide. However, around the world, many countries celebrate Children’s Day on different dates instead of June 1st.
In Australia, Children’s Day is celebrated on the last Wednesday of October. In Brazil, it falls on October 12, coinciding with the national holiday for Our Lady Aparecida. The United States does not have a specific Children’s Day, combining it with Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
In Japan, International Children’s Day is a national holiday known as “Kodomo no Hi,” celebrated on May 5.
In India, Children’s Day is celebrated on November 14, to honor the birthday of leader Jawaharlal Nehru (the first Prime Minister of India).
In Turkey, International Children’s Day is celebrated on April 23, coinciding with the “National Sovereignty and Children’s Day.” Children’s Day in Turkey features spectacular activities and ceremonies lasting a week.
In Canada, the Parliament officially declared November 20 each year as Children’s Day, following the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Child made on November 20, 1959. This declaration emphasizes the rights of children under 18, ensuring they are adequately protected by law. In Canada, this day is also referred to as the “Child Day Act.”
In Germany, during the Cold War (1945-1991), Children’s Day was celebrated differently in East and West Germany (June 1 in the DDR and September 20 in the BRD). They also had different names and characteristics, with the DDR calling it International Children’s Day and the BRD referring to it as World Children’s Day.
In East Germany, Children’s Day has been observed since 1950 and became an annual event in every child’s life.
In China, the celebration of Children’s Day is often combined with International Women’s Day on April 4, called the “Combined Holiday for Women and Children.” In Hong Kong and Taiwan, Children’s Day is also celebrated on April 4, which is a holiday.
In 2024, International Children’s Day will fall on Saturday, June 1, 2024. Parents should plan accordingly to organize meaningful celebrations, give gifts, or flexible schedules for children to play, helping them create beautiful memories on International Children’s Day. However, in light of the ongoing complex health situation this year, parents should not forget to follow safety precautions!
