By Steve Walker
Steve Walker is a Vietnam Veteran, former Justice of the Peace and Journalist
Grandparent’s Day is a holiday for celebrating and honoring both paternal and maternal grandparents. Al- though this celebration is largely celebrated in the United States, various coun- tries have also joined in on the fun of celebrating this special day. But countries like South Sudan, Poland, Canada, France, Germany, Estonia, UK, and Australia have different dates for the celebration of this wonderful event. To celebrate this day, people do various things with their grandparents such as eating out on lunch or dinner, or spending the day at their grandparents’ house.
This holiday is always held on the first Sunday after Labor Day. This means that Grandparents Day 2019 will be celebrated today, September 8. In addition, Grandparents’ Day 2020 will also be held on the first Sunday after Labor Day which is Sunday, September 13, 2020.
Although there are several accounts on how the celebration of the Grandparent’s may have started, the event was officially declared by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 and made official on September 6, 1979 which declared the first Sunday after Labor Day as the Grandparents’ Day.
The following are some of the most interesting facts about the Grandparents Day that are worth sharing to other people. About 1/3 of the population is composed of grandparents. About
1.7 million people become grandparents each year. Ac- cording to surveys about 72 % of people believed that being a grandparent is the most important thing that they can do in their lifetime.
Of all grandparents, 43 % are in their 50s and 37 % are in their 40s. The average age of a grandparent is 48%. 43% of grandparents exercise regularly and also play sports. Many grandparents do volunteer work regularly. Numerous grandparents come online with 45 % having social medical accounts. 60 % of grandparents still work either full time or part time. In the USA, 75 % of grand- parents control the wealth of the country. They love spending time with their grand kids. Sadly to say, 66% of grandparents have not yet celebrated Grandparent’s Day. It is time to change this and make it 100%.
Quotes such as, “I couldn’t ask for better grandparents for my daughter,” or “Happy national grandparents day, we have the most loving bunch anyone could ever hope to have.”
“Of all my jobs and titles, grandmother is the best!” How about, “blessed are those who spoil and snuggle, hug and hope, pray and pamper, for they shall be called grandparents. So on this Grandparent’s Day, honor and celebrate your grandparents while they are still alive. As a grandparent of two granddaughters and two grandsons, Linda and I are looking forward to hearing from them TODAY!!
