International Day of Families: Date, History, Timeline, Theme, Banners, Cards & Quotes

The International Day of Families is celebrated on 15th of May, at the headquarters of United Nations and around the world. The day was officially announced in 1993 by the UN General Assembly with resolution A/RES/47/237 and demonstrates the significance which the global community attaches to families. It offers an opportunity to spread awareness about the issues that relate to families and to enhance knowledge of the economic, demographic and social processes that affects the families.

The Universal Peace Federation also comes forward to celebrate the day as it regards family as the miniature of a global community. It also considers that sustainable peace is rooted in the family as the most devoted social unit, the school of peace and love.

International Day of Families:

International Day of Families 2024 will be observed worldwide on 15th of May, Wednesday.

Climate change negatively impacts the health and well-being of families through increased pollution, while extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change, such as hurricanes, droughts and floods, often lead to forced displacement and loss of livelihoods for families and individuals. Such events impact agricultural productivity and access to water, intensifying hunger and vulnerability. They cause economic disruption in industries sensitive to climate impacts such as agriculture and fisheries.

Without drastic action, adaptation to and mitigation of the impacts of climate change will become increasingly difficult and costly.

Empowering families through education, changing consumption habits, and advocacy is critical for meaningful and effective climate action. Families pass values across generations, so instilling sustainable habits and climate awareness in families from an early age is important. Integrating circular economy principles into early childhood education can help build a sustainable economic model based on minimizing waste and regenerating natural resources. Families as consumers and advocates can drive the transition to a circular economy.

The International Day of Families 2024 theme was “Embracing Diversity, Strengthening Families”. The 2024 International Day of Families aims to raise awareness of how climate change impacts families and the role families can play in climate action. Through family and community initiatives, we can foster climate action with education, access to information, training and community participation.

History of International Day of Families:

On 20th of September, 1993, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution named A/RES/47/237 that reasserted the resolution named 44/82 which was passed in the month of December in 1989 and resolution named 46/92 which was passed in the month of December in 1991. These were reasserted and passed to showcase the determination of the United Nations to encourage better life standards and social progress of families across the globe.

In the year 1994, United Nations officially declared the International Day of Families in response to the modifying economic and social structures that affect the stability and structure of family units in several parts of the world. The day serves as an occasion to embody the work which was commenced in 1993 and to commemorate the essence of people, societies, cultures and families across the globe.

International Day of Families symbol comprises a solid green circle with a red image in between. The symbol contains schematic drawing elements of a house and a heart. It signifies that families are a center part of any society and they offer a supporting and stable home for all the age groups of people.

Why International Day of Families is celebrated:

International Day of Families is observed every year. The purpose for this international observance day is to acknowledge the significance of family and to heighten awareness on the issues affecting families worldwide. This annual celebration reflects the significance that the global community affixes to families as primary units of the society, moreover as its concern in relation to their situation worldwide.

The international Day of Families offers the right set of circumstances to promote awareness on issues that relate to families, besides promoting appropriate action. The day acts as a powerful awakening factor in the best interest of families in all the nations, which benefits themselves of this favorable occasion and demonstrate the support of issues concerning families suited to each society. Over the years, the day has also inspired several countries in the world to create their own family days or awareness events that are based on community to bring attention to family issues.

Timeline of International Family Day:

Theme:

Facebook Covers / Banners:

How International Day of Families is celebrated worldwide:

The International Day of Families is acknowledged or celebrated worldwide in diverse ways. Some communities choose to pay tribute to the day by organizing discussions or public exhibitions in line with the ideas that are relevant to the theme prescribed for the year. Other communities celebrate the day by holding education sessions for youth and children. Public officials also hold policy meetings to discuss on the policies that affect families directly.

Some people might even choose to celebrate the day with their own families. While the day is an international observance that is celebrated by various communities and people all over the world, the day is not declared as a public holiday. Thus, all the government offices are likely to remain open, as well as the businesses and postal delivery services.

Some of the examples of events held in recent years across the world are as follows:

India:

International Day of Families is celebrated every year in India to raise awareness on various family issues and to acknowledge the importance of families. The day is observed by various organizations of the country where the members of the organization as well as their family members take part in different events. Different companies organize the day every year to familiarize the families of their employees with the functioning of the company and to introduce them to the remaining staff.

Many organizations set up a photo booth with cut pieces of house and car for families to enjoy clicking pictures together. Several games are held for adults as well as for children to relish the day with their families. For entertaining the families, there are live performances on music, dance etc. Guests are also gifted photo frames at the end of the event for sticking their family photographs and sharing their bonds.

Some families also celebrate the day by spending time together, cooking great dishes, watching movies and in several other ways.

Canada:

International Day of Families is observed every year in Canada to celebrate the significance of family life and families to people and their communities. It offers a golden opportunity to people of Canada to spend quality time with their loved ones. Most people get involved in activities with their entire family. They go for dinners, skating, family outings, go for movies together or take part in crafting.

Some families also spend their day by visiting orphanages, blind schools, old age homes, and cancer societies etc to educate their children about the unprivileged section of the society. Special venues like museums or art galleries and communities often provide special offers for families like reduced admission prices or plan special events for the families. Schools are closed on the day but the day is not a national statutory holiday.

South Africa:

South Africa has special circumstances that have a deep impact on the situation and structure of families. They comprise its history of apartheid and especially the system of migrant labor. Poverty largely impacts family life in the country. The pandemic of HIV / AIDS has also greatly affected the well-being and health of family members and has placed additional burden on the children.

International Day of Families in South Africa focuses on healthy lives of the families. The day is annually commemorated with respect to the changing economic and social structures that affect the stability and structure of family units in various regions of the country.

The day is celebrated in South Africa each year. People celebrate the day by getting together with their families while relaxing and relishing on food and drinks. There is a national holiday in the country and most of the businesses are closed.

Italy:

In Italy, the International Day of Families is celebrated in accordance with the theme prescribed by the United Nations for the year. Number of communities come together to commemorate the day by organizing various conferences and events. In some events, serious of poems are offered that are dedicated to the entire family sphere- parents, grandparents, couple and the children.

Various couples that belong to different ethnicity, faiths and communities give testimonials on their family life which support the incomparable family value. Music and dance is also organized in the events for families to enjoy together. Other entertainment activities are also organized along with offering useful information for the young as well as the old and all kinds of families.

On the day, there is refocus on role of families, current trends in the development of family policy, sharing good practices and reviewing challenges that are faced by the nation to pursue and recommend solutions.

Australia:

In Australia, every year International Day of Families is celebrated for the entire week in the form of National Families Week. It is held between 15th of May to 21st of May to coincide with the International Day of Families as proclaimed by the United Nations. It is managed by Families Australia each year since the period of 2003 with the support of Australian Government.

The week is a time to observe with families, make contact with extended friends and family members and enjoy the family activities with the broader community. There is celebration of the meaning family while making the most of the family time. People of Australia seek out time to visit their parents, friends and other close family members and spend quality time with them.

Suggestions for celebrating International Day of Families in India:

Indians learn the vital themes of cultural life within the confines of a family. In major parts of the country, primary units of society are the wider kinship groupings and patrilineal family unit. Joint family is the most aspired residential unit which consists of three or more generations related to patrilineal, who all work under one roof, live, worship; eat together in mutually beneficial economic and social activities.

As living in families is the major aspect of Indians, there is a large need of the awareness on various family issues and the importance of families. International Day of Families provides a very good platform to raise understanding on the economic, demographic and social processes affecting families. Here are some ways to celebrate the day in India:

Greeting Cards:

International Day of Families: Quotes

• The gift of family is priceless, let’s cherish and treasure it always. Happy International Family Day!
• Family is our backbone, and we must always honour and cherish it, especially during difficult times. Happy Family Day!
• On this family day, let’s cherish the moments we have with our loved ones and keep their smiles shining bright forever.
• No family is perfect, but love and understanding can make all the difference. Let’s work towards building stronger families.
• Let’s celebrate this International Family Day by fostering feelings of brotherhood, peace, and sharing, and make this world a better place for everyone.

Conclusion:

International Day of Families is a very important day as it creates awareness about the significance of families among the people in modern period. As people these days are switching more towards the independent and solitary mode of lifestyle, they are gradually moving away from the wonderful institution of society known as ‘Family’.

This day is ideal for the ones who wish to spend time with their families- either the family in which they were born, the family they choose themselves or even expanded family. It is also ideal for the ones who wish to spread awareness on few of the numerous issues that are affecting a lot of families these days.