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Grandparent's Day Facts

Grandparent's Day Facts
Grandparent's Day has been celebrated for many years in various countries around the world. In the United States it has been observed since 1978. Grandparent's Day falls on the first Sunday after Labor Day in the U.S. The founder of National Grandparent's Day I the United States was Marian McQuade, a grandmother from West Virginia. She has been officially recognized as the founder by the President Jimmy Carter. McQuade's goal was educating the country's youth about the contributions seniors have made throughout the country's history. Unlike Mother's Day and Father's Day, on Grandparent's Day it is appropriate for grandchildren to give gifts to their grandparents and vice versa.
Interesting Grandparent's Day Facts:
Marian McQuade, the founder of Grandparent's Day, died in 2008, having 15 children, 43 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.
West Virginia honored Marian McQuade by putting her name on highway signs on the roads leading to hometown of Oak Hill that read, "Home of Marian McQuade, Founder of National Grandparent's Day".
The official flower for Grandparent's Day is the forget-me-not. It was adopted as Grandparent's Day's official flower in April 20th, 1999 by the National Grandparent's Day Council.
National Grandparent's Day official song is titled "A Song for Grandma and Grandpa". It was written by Johnny Prill.
Johnny Prill was awarded the National Songwriter's Award by the National Grandparent's Day Council for his song "A Song for Grandma and Grandpa".
Several countries other than the United States celebrate Grandparent's Day, including Australia (date varies in different states), Canada, Estonia (second Sunday in September), Italy (October 2nd), Pakistan (second Sunday in October), Singapore, South Sudan (2nd Sunday in November), Taiwan (last Sunday in August), and in the UK (1st Sunday in October).
Some countries celebrate Grandmother's Day as a holiday on its own including France (first Sunday in March), Germany (2nd Sunday in October), and Poland (January 21st).
Some countries celebrate Grandfather's Day as a holiday on its own including Poland, on January 22nd, one day after Grandmother's Day.
It is estimated that 7.1 million grandparents in the United States have grandchildren living with them. This is equal to 10% of the children in the United States.
It is estimated that in the United States there are 2.7 million grandparents acting as primary caregivers for their grandchildren. Of the 2.7 million grandparents caring for their grandchildren, more than 600,000 are living below the poverty level.
More than 700,000 of the grandparents caring for their grandchildren in the U.S. are disabled.
It is estimated that the average grandparent in the United States is 48.
Grandparents often care for their grandchildren. Famous people who were raised by their grandparents include Oprah Winfrey, President Barack Obama, Jack Nicholson, Willie Nelson, Bobby Darin, Eric Clapton, Carol Burnett, and Maya Angelou.
Grandparent's Day can be celebrated in many different ways including gift giving, playing board games or spending the day together with their grandchildren, sharing some of their favorite past times such as fishing or visiting museums with their grandchildren, sharing memories, or enjoying a meal together with their grandchildren.


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