We are excited to start another exciting calendar year, hoping it will be better than the last. The beginning of the year, as always, is full of New Year's resolutions, which we follow scrupulously, at least at the beginning.
January is also a time of love, joy and warmth due to the upcoming Grandparents' Day . Days dedicated to grandparents are the perfect opportunity to show them our love, gratitude and constant memory.
A long-standing tradition of celebrating Grandma's and Grandpa's Day
Grandparents' Day is a special holiday that we celebrate with joy and gratitude for our beloved grandparents. In Poland in 2024, Grandmother's Day will fall on January 21 , and Grandfather's Day will fall on January 22 . This is a time when we can thank our grandmothers and grandfathers for their invaluable love, support and wisdom they give us. 
The idea of celebrating Grandparents' Day was born in Poland in the 1960s. The originator of this holiday was the weekly "Kobieta i Życie", which initiated the celebration of this day in 1964. A year later, "Express Poznański" announced January 21 as Grandma's Day , and a day later, i.e. January 22, as Grandfather's Day . Since then, these festivals have become popular across the country and are celebrated every year with great enthusiasm.
Grandparents' Day in Poland and around the world
Grandmother's and Grandfather's Day is not an international holiday, which means that it is celebrated on different dates around the world. In Poland, we celebrate Grandma's Day and the following Grandparent's Day separately, while in some countries, such as the United States, Great Britain or Canada, National Grandparents' Day is celebrated, which includes both grandmother and grandfather.
Interesting facts about Grandmother's and Grandfather's Day celebrations around the world:
- National Grandparents Day in America was officially authorized in 1978 by Congress and the president, falling on the first Sunday after Labor Day. The official symbol of Grandparents' Day in the United States is the forget-me-not and it has its official anthem.
- In Spain, Grandparents' Day has been celebrated on July 26 since 1998. Just like in Poland, this day is an opportunity to give gifts and watch the film "Abuelo Made in Spain" together.
- In Italy, Grandparents' Day was established only in 2005 and is celebrated on October 2.
- Grandparents' Day in Great Britain is celebrated on the first Sunday of October. Similarly to Poland, special performances dedicated to grandparents are organized in schools at this time.
- French grandmothers celebrate their day on the first Sunday in March, while grandparents have to wait until the first Sunday in October to celebrate their day. Both on Grandma's Day and Grandpa's Day , the French take their grandparents to cafes, spending this special time with them over aromatic coffee.
- The Catholic Church, wanting to uniquely emphasize the role of older people in 2021, has established the World Day of Grandparents and Older Persons on July 23.
How to celebrate Grandma's and Grandpa's Day?
We can spend Grandparents' Day in many different ways, emphasizing the importance and uniqueness of our grandparents. Here are some proven ideas on how we can express our love and gratitude to our grandmothers and grandfathers:
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Personal meeting and conversation
The most important thing we can do is spend time with our grandparents. Let's plan a meeting, visit them or organize a meeting at our home. Let's talk to them, listen to their stories and memories. -
A unique gift for Grandma's and Grandpa's Day
On the occasion of the upcoming Grandparents' Day, let's give our grandmothers and grandfathers a unique gift that will express our love and respect. It can be an album with photos together, a personalized gift such as a mug , an apron or a pillow , or something that reflects their interests and passions. -
Spending time together
Let's organize a joint activity that will make our grandparents happy. It could be cooking together, going for a walk, a trip to your favorite place, or watching your favorite movie.
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A letter or a card
Let's write a letter or a card for our grandparents, expressing our love, gratitude and respect. Let's tell them how important they are to us and how much they mean in our lives. These are simple gestures that can make our grandparents feel especially appreciated. -
Flowers and gifts
Let's not forget about traditional gifts, such as a bouquet of flowers. Flowers are a symbol of love and beauty that we can pass on to our grandmothers and grandfathers. We can also give them something that will make them happy, e.g. their favorite sweets or a book. -
Visit to a nursing home
If our grandparents live in a nursing home, let's visit them on this special day. Let's prepare small gifts for other residents of the nursing home to share the love and joy of this holiday with others. -
Memories and photos
Grandparents ' Day is a great opportunity to remember shared moments and discover new stories. During a visit to our grandparents, we can look through old photos together and refresh beautiful memories. We can also organize a joint photo session, the results of which will be a great souvenir in the future.
January is dedicated to Grandpa and Grandma
Grandmother's Day and Grandfather's Day are one of the most important days of the year and the time we can fully spend with our grandparents. Let these be days that our grandmothers and grandfathers will remember for a long time. Let us not forget that our love and respect for them should be present every day. Let's celebrate Grandparents' Day with joy and a heart full of gratitude, not forgetting about cards, small gifts and flowers for our loved ones.