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Mothers, Fathers, and Children’s Day

Many of our students celebrate these holidays during the spring. But the dates of observance and the traditions vary according to their family’s heritage. And some get to celebrate twice since they also do so according to the U.S. customs.

CHINA

Mother’s Day: Second Sunday of May

Father’s Day: Third Sunday of June

Children’s Day: June 1

Women’s Day: March 8

In China, we have Women’s Day when women receive special treats and normally get a half- day off of work. Mother’s Day is a celebration that was recently adopted. It is not an official holiday, but Women’s Day is. Father’s Day is also not widely celebrated and is not a public holiday. Children’s Day is June 1st. Schools have special activities for children and many places offer discounts on food, attractions, etc. In my memory, Children’s Day normally was celebrated in elementary school. Each class and school would have big parties and games to celebrate this day. Kids would dress up on that day and got prizes and treats during the parties and games. Typically, we would have the afternoon off after the school and class parties were over. This was always the happiest day of the entire school year during my elementary school years.

- Laura Ni, Apollo Elementary and Maywood Middle School parent

GERMANY

Mother’s Day: Second Sunday of May

Father’s Day: 40th Day of Easter

Children’s Day: September 20

In Germany, we do not celebrate Children’s Day. Father's Day is celebrated on Ascension Day, which is a public holiday in Germany. Ascension Day is the 40th day of Easter and commemorates the ascension of Jesus into heaven 39 days after his resurrection on Easter Sunday. It always takes place on a Thursday. In some regions, it is also known as Men’s or Gentlemen’s Day as all men take part in the celebrations. This tradition dates to the eighteenth century, when prizes were awarded to fathers (e.g., for the father who had the most children) after Ascension Day parades in rural areas. The men would then spend the rest of the day in “manly” pursuits. Nowadays, most dads mingle and head out biking or gathering with other dads. For Mother’s Day, people do something good for their moms; give them flowers, breakfast, cards, or anything similar. My mom always said, “I don’t want to be celebrated because it’s Mother’s Day. Instead, I want to be celebrated and remembered each day.”

- Katrin Benders, Pacific Cascade Middle School parent

INDIA

Mother’s Day: Second Sunday of May

Father’s Day: Third Sunday of June

Children’s Day: November 14

Children's Day in India is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of India's first Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. Children's Day is popularly known as 'Baal Diwas' in India. The day aims to increase the awareness of the rights, care, and education of children. As kids in school, we used to sing songs dedicated to Jawaharlal Nehru. The teachers used to put up programmed and entertaining performances for the children like fancy dress competitions.

Father’s Day and Mother’s Day are very recent celebrations in India with influence from the West! When we were growing up, we did not have these days on the calendar.

In India nowadays, Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June, like in the U.S. This day is celebrated to acknowledge and appreciate the role of fathers who play a very important role in our families. Children look forward to this day and make their dads feel special with their gestures. Children give cards, gifts, and flowers to their fathers. Some go out to dinner and spend the day with their fathers as well.

Similarly, Mother's Day is celebrated in India on the second Sunday of May, as in the U.S.A. On this day, children express their love, respect, honor, and gratitude for their mothers and try to make them feel special by greeting them with gifts and family outings.

- Darpan Marwah, Pacific Cascade Middle School parent

JAPAN

Mother’s Day: Second Sunday of May

Father’s Day: Third Sunday of June

Children’s Day: May 5

Children's Day in Japan is a national holiday to celebrate every child's health and happiness and wish them a bright future. Traditionally, the family flies carp-shaped streamers (Koi-Nobori) to celebrate the day. From an old tale of a carp swimming up the torrential river and becoming a dragon, people symbolize carp as courage and the ability to achieve goals. The family also enjoys eating rice cakes (Kashiwa-mochi/Chimaki), making paper Koi-Nobori, cooking some family dishes kids like, or having potluck parties. Many families living outside of Japan use their creativity to celebrate that day. I used to celebrate with my son when he was little.

- Nana Tsujino, Issaquah High School parent

KOREA

Parent’s Day: May 8

Children’s Day: May 5

I grew up in Korea where Children's Day and Parent's Day are in the same month, May, which is referred to as the Month of Family. On Children's Day, we used to go to amusement parks when I was little. On Parent's Day, we made a little flower and gave it to our parents. We celebrate both parents on one day, not separately. Here in the U.S., we have a special dinner on that day for both Father's and Mother's Day with the kid's grandparents. In the U.S., we celebrate each kid's birthday by having a special dinner with a gift for them.

- Caroline Yi, Issaquah High School parent

MALAYSIA

Mother’s Day: Second Sunday of May

Father’s Day: Third Sunday of June

Children’s Day: June 1

Growing up, I remember Children’s Day at school. It was a one-day long event like a school concert, but also with a party and yummy food. But we did not celebrate this holiday outside of school. As a child, Mother’s and Father’s Day were not celebrated in Malaysia yet, but I think towards my late teens I started hearing about them.

- Farha Ajir-LeHue, Pacific Cascade Middle School parent

MEXICO

Mother’s Day: May 10

Father’s Day: Third Sunday of June

Children’s Day: April 30

Growing up in Mexico, Children’s Day was a big deal. For sure, it was one of my favorite holidays. It felt just right; we have a day for Mothers, one for Fathers, and one for Children! Children’s Day in Mexico is always celebrated on April 30th. Usually, there are no classes at schools, even if it is not an official holiday in the school calendar. There are no classes, but no children want to miss school this day! Teachers and parents organize a big party or festival for the students at school with treats, games, and many fun activities.

The cities also offer colorful parades, and there are many special events at museums and malls. There are also toy drives to make sure all kids are celebrated. Parents and all adults give gifts to children and make them feel special throughout the day. This day serves as a reminder to adults to reflect on their childhood and remember the world through their child’s eyes. Nowadays, adults and all public figures change their profile image in social media with a picture of themselves when they were kids to celebrate their inner child.

It has always been very important to me to offer a special day for my children, especially since this holiday is not celebrated in the U.S. So, every year on April 30th, I celebrate my two children with gifts, a special lunch or dinner, and a fun activity in the evening.

- Alicia Spinner, Cultural Bridges Manager

NETHERLANDS

Mother’s Day: Second Sunday of May

Father’s Day: Third Sunday of June

To be honest, I never heard of Children’s Day before. We never celebrated it in the Netherlands. And Mother’s and Father’s Days are not over the top. We always made a drawing or craft project with a text (rhyme) at school when we were in elementary school. We made breakfast for our parents to eat in bed and gave our handmade gifts. We still love handmade gifts more than bought gifts because children have to put their creativity and time into it instead of parents helping them to buy something expensive. For moms, most of the time, the kids buy some flowers. On their day, mom or dad can choose what to do or eat and do not have to do any chores that day.

- Kim de Booji, Pacific Cascade Middle School parent

PHILIPPINES

Mother’s Day: First Monday of December

Father’s Day: First Monday of December

Children’s Day: June 1

Niños Inocentes (Holy Innocents) was our Children’s Day. For this holiday, we would stop by the church and say a prayer for all the children in this world. In the years this holiday fell on a Sunday, we would hear a mass. That’s how I remember commemorating Children’s Day. And for Mother’s and Father’s Day, we would also go to church where mothers and fathers will get a special blessing from the priest. The kids would greet and thank them and have a special homemade meal. My mom usually received flowers that we would pick from around the neighborhood, never a florist bouquet. And when my sisters were in college, they would come home and bring her a cake from Manila.

There have been a lot of changes to the dates when these holidays are celebrated. In 1980 they were proclaimed to be the first Monday of December. Then the next president moved them to align with U.S. traditions to May and June, but the dates were changed back to December under a different President in 1998. But because of the heavy influence of American culture, everyone celebrates in May and June, even if these dates are not official.

- Nori Pagaduan Dy, Issaquah High School parent

RUSSIA

Mother’s Day: Last Sunday of November

Father’s Day: Third Sunday of October

Children’s Day: June 1 International Women’s Day: March 8

Russia does have Children’s Day, though it is not a state holiday; there are no celebrations, and it is not a day off. June 1 is called International Day for Protection of Children. There might be some special events held at cultural venues like libraries and museums but all-in-all, people go about their everyday lives without paying much attention.

However, Russians celebrate a big holiday in spring. It is International Women's Day on March 8th. This one is a state holiday with a day off. While initially, it was a day to commemorate women's fight for emancipation and equal rights, in Russia over the past few decades, it has evolved into a holiday to celebrate all females: sort of like Mother's Day, but people congratulate gals of all ages, regardless of their age, marital status, or whether they have kids. At schools, teachers organize celebrations in each classroom, and all boys prepare gifts for girls. They draw names from a hat, and it is not always the girl that you like! Usually, about that time tulips and daffodils start to sprout. This holiday is often associated with these flowers, being the first flowers of spring, a perfect match to the first spring holiday.

Mother's Day is another new holiday that passes pretty much unnoticed like Children’s Day.

- Natalia Argutina, Challenger Elementary parent

VIETNAM

International Women's Day: March 8

I grew up in a small city called Dalat. We did not celebrate Children’s Day, and I did not know it existed until I was 15 years old. It is not a big holiday in Vietnamese culture, so it is not a celebration to remember.

However, March 8th is International Women's Day. This day is a celebration to honor the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonding, and the influence of mothers in society. For students, this is also an opportunity for them to pay tribute to the "second mother at school,” who is always by your side to lead the way, guide you to the shore of knowledge, and help you grow and improve yourself before stepping out into society. Also, at school, boys give small gifts to girls. At home, most moms will have a relaxed day to enjoy. Vietnam does not have a designated day to celebrate fathers.

- Tram Pham, Liberty High School parent

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