Post by Nanna on Aug 4, 2018 15:35:00 GMT -5
Children's Day observations in the United States predate both Mother's and Father's Day, though a permanent annual single Children's Day observation is not made at the national level.
In 1856, Rev. Charles H. Leonard, D.D., then pastor of the First Universalist Church of Chelsea, Mass., set apart a Sunday for the dedication of children to the Christian life, and for the re-dedication of parents and guardians to bringing-up their children in Christian nurture. This service was first observed the second Sunday in June.
The Universalist Convention at Baltimore in September 1867, passed a resolution commending churches to set apart one Sunday in each year as Children's Day.
The Methodist Episcopal Church at the Methodist Conference of 1868 recommended that second Sunday in June be annually observed as Children's Day.
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1883 designated "the second Sabbath in June as Children's Day."
Also in 1883, the National Council of Congregational Churches and nearly all the state bodies of that denomination in the United States passed resolutions commending the observance of the day. About this time many other denominations adopted similar recommendations.
Children's Day was proclaimed by President Bill Clinton to be held on 11 October 1998,[58] in response to a letter written by an eight-year-old girl, Kierstin Gonzales inquiring if he would make a Children's Day to celebrate youth. "National Child's Day" was proclaimed by President George W. Bush as 3 June 2001, and in subsequent years on the first Sunday in June.[59]
Since 2009, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has issued proclamations proclaiming the second Sunday in June as Children's Day as had the previous governor in 2007 and 2008. The mayors of Aurora and Batavia, Illinois, also have issued proclamations.
On 23 April 2011, Executive of King County, WA declared 23 April as the International Children's Day.
Children's Day celebrations of Turkish Community in California lead to State of California recognizing the last Saturday of April as the Children's Day.