Valentine's Day (Saint Valentine's Day, Feast of Saint Valentine) originated in 496 AD as a Western Christian feast day honoring early Christian martyrs, and has evolved into a cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love globally. In the 14th and 15th centuries, notions of romantic and courtly love flourished, and were associated with […]
The preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of humankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed […]
Mother’s Day recognises the work of mothers and mother figures (stepmothers, relatives, guardians, foster parents and close family or other friends) in the home and for society more broadly. It is celebrated annually on the second Sunday of May, and is said to have been initiated in Australia in 1924 when Mrs Janet Heyden in […]
The International Day of Families is to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families. Recognised as the basic unit of society, the United Nations acknowledges how families have changed over time, both in structure and due to global socioeconomic trends, and that families and family-oriented policies and programmes are vital for […]
Parents and parent figures play a the critical role in the rearing of children. The Global Day of Parents is to recognise this role and that of the family in nurturing and protecting children, and in enabling an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding for the full and harmonious development of each child's personality. Established […]
Though fathers have been honoured since early Christian times through celebrations like St Joseph's Day, the modern-day version started in the United States with both a remembrance service for 360 men killed in a 1908 mining disaster and with Sonora Smart Dodd in Washington state in 11910 wanting to honour her father who was a […]
In 1963, Harvey Ball created the smiley face symbol - a yellow circle with black eye dots and a smile curve. World Smile Day began in 1999 and is on the first Friday of October each year. It is a Day to smile and to make small acts of kindness. Harvey wanted to keep the […]