The relationship between grandparents and grandchildren is special. As humans, we tend to seek friendships with people of a similar age to us. The exception to this trend is with grandparents. In spite of the age gap, relationships with grandparents can be some of the most meaningful familial relationships.
The elderly people in our communities have seen and experienced so much of history, and they have valuable wisdom to pass on. To honor the contributions of grandparents and elderly individuals to society, many countries celebrate Grandparents Day.
What Is the Purpose of Grandparents Day?
Grandparents Day celebrates the love and contributions of grandparents everywhere. It also highlights the importance of intergenerational connections and relationships. It is a day to show appreciation for the elderly people in your community.
When Is Grandparents Day?
Grandparents Day is celebrated all over the world! The holiday even has different names around the world. Some countries celebrate Grandma and Grandpa separately from each other. Here are some of the countries that celebrate this special holiday:
| Country | Holiday Name | Date Celebrated |
| Australia | Grandparents Day | last Sunday in October |
| Brazil | Grandparents Day | July 26 |
| Canada | National Grandparents Day | second Sunday in September |
| Estonia | Grandparents' Day | second Sunday in September |
| France | Grandmothers Day | first Sunday in March |
| Hong Kong | Grandparents Day | second Sunday in October |
| Italy | National Grandparents' Feast | October 2 |
| Japan | Respect for the Aged Day | third Monday in September |
| Mexico | Grandparents Day | August 28 |
| Philippines | Grandparents Day | second Sunday in September |
| Poland | Grandma's Day | January 21 |
| Poland | Grandpa's Day | January 22 |
| United Kingdom | Grandparents Day | first Sunday in October |
| United States | Grandparent Day | September; first Sunday after Labor Day |
| International | World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly | fourth Sunday in July |
History of Grandparents Day
Poland has celebrated a separate Grandmother's Day and Grandfather's Day since 1964. Fun fact: On average, Polish grandparents spend 9 hours a week with their grandchildren, which is about 3 hours more than the average in other European countries.
The national celebration of Grandparents Day in the United States started in 1978, thanks to the efforts of Marian McQuade. McQuade convinced politicians in West Virginia to proclaim the first Grandparents Day in the state in 1973. She then continued to lobby for national observance until President Jimmy Carter finally proclaimed the holiday official in 1978.
The Philippines began celebrating Grandparents Day in 1987. As part of the holiday's celebrations, many hospitals organize special events for elderly people, with services like free medical appointments, glasses, or medicines.
Junior Chamber International Victoria introduced the first Grandparents Day in Hong Kong in 1990 to strengthen the social concept of respecting and caring for the elderly and to encourage intergenerational friendships.
The United Kingdom has been celebrating its own Grandparents Day since 1990. The holiday was first introduced by a charity, Age UK, and has been celebrated in the UK on the first Sunday in October since 2008.
Italy's Grandparents Day is officially known as Festa Nazionale dei Nonni (National Grandparents Feast), and the holiday began in Italy in 2005.
Australia's Grandparents Day first began in 2010 and is celebrated on the last Sunday in October. Queensland, Australia, even holds celebrations and events all throughout October, which has been designated as Seniors Month.
Estonia added Grandparents Day (known as Vanavanemate Päev) to their list of national holidays in 2010 to emphasize the role grandparents play in raising grandchildren as well as to pay tribute to elderly individuals.
Fun Facts about Grandparents Day
- Since 1978, at least 22 countries have adopted Grandparents Day.
- The forget-me-not, a beautiful blue flower, is the symbol of Grandparents Day in the United States.
- In 2021, Pope Francis announced the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly to be celebrated each year on the fourth Sunday of July.
- In the United States, about 4 million greeting cards are sent each year for Grandparents Day.
How Do You Celebrate Grandparents Day?
There are many ways to celebrate Grandparents Day beyond simply visiting your grandparents. The sections below feature activities you can do to honor and connect with the positive elderly influences in your life—both those who are active in your life and those who have passed on.
Activities to Do with Your Nearby Grandparents
If your grandparents live close by, there are many meaningful activities you can do together on Grandparents Day.
- Do a puzzle.
- Have a family game night.
- Go for a walk or a hike together.
- Cook a favorite family recipe together.
- Bake them a treat, or buy them flowers.
- Take your grandparents out to eat at a nice restaurant.
- Have them show you their old photo albums and tell you stories about their lives.
- Take family pictures with your grandparents to keep and show future generations.
- Build something together—a birdhouse, a bench, a shoe rack, a dollhouse—whatever you want!
- Schedule a sleepover for yourself or for your children at your grandparents' home (with their permission).
- Do a hands-on craft together, like painting with watercolors, sewing a quilt, making jewelry, carving wood, and so on.
- Serve your grandparents by helping with household chores, yard work, moving furniture, organizing holiday decorations, grocery shopping, and so on.
- Watch classic movies together. What were your grandparents' favorite movies when they were your age? Get the DVD from the library, and bring some snacks!
- Ask your grandparents to teach you a skill or hobby they enjoy. Does your grandma knit cozy socks? Can your grandpa make fantastic omelets? Ask them to pass on their knowledge and teach you their skills.
Activities to Connect with Your Long-Distance Grandparents
If you live far away from your grandparents, there are still many ways to show them your appreciation on Grandparents Day!
- Send them flowers.
- Write a heartfelt card, and mail it to them.
- Make a list of everything they have taught you.
- Explain what you love about them.
- Tell them why you are grateful for them.
- Share some favorite memories you have of them.
- Write why they inspire you.
- Video chat with your grandparents using an app like Facetime or Whatsapp.
- Become pen pals with your grandparents by sending them handwritten letters.
- Organize a virtual book club with your grandparents that meets once a month.
- Plan a digital storytime with your children's grandparents by having a call or video chat at bedtime.
- Schedule time to call your grandparents on the phone. Consider making it a weekly or monthly tradition.
- Do long-distance gardening by purchasing a planting set for both you and your grandparents. Take care of your plants from afar, and compare the plant's growth and height.
Activities to Honor Grandparents Who Have Passed Away
Grandparents Day is a good time to remember grandparents who may no longer be with us. Here are some ways to honor their memories. Appropriate ways to honor deceased family members may vary with cultural and family traditions. If you visit a cemetery, be respectful of the cemetery's rules and of other visitors.
- Look at old pictures of your grandparents.
- If possible, visit and beautify their grave in a cemetery with flowers, pinwheels, or other mementos.
- Invite your extended family over for dinner, and share memories of your grandparents with each other.
- Get out a notebook, a journal, or a journaling app, and write down what you loved about your grandparents, what they taught you, and some fun memories of them.
- If your grandparents passed away before you were born, talk to people who did know them (like other relatives or family friends) and ask them what they remember and love about your grandparents.
- Share your favorite memories of your grandparents with your children or younger relatives who didn't know them as well as you did.
What if I Don't Have Grandparents?
Some people may not have grandparents, or they may have a difficult relationship with their grandparents. There are also many elderly people who have no children or grandchildren, difficult relationships with family members, or no living family members. Grandparents Day is not just a day to honor grandparents. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the older people who made a difference in your life: inspiring role models, favorite teachers, impactful community members, family friends, and more. These individuals deserve to be recognized for their lives and positive effect on those around them.
Here are some ways to serve elderly people on Grandparents Day:
- Consider volunteering at a nursing home or senior center.
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen, food pantry, or homeless shelter.
- Visit someone or write a note to someone who might be lonely or may not get many visitors.
- Share your musical talents by signing up to play musical instruments or sing for senior center and hospital residents and patients.
- Check on the older people living in your neighborhood. If you have an older neighbor, see how you can help with housework or yard work.
- Contact the nursing homes or assisted living facilities in your area, and ask about making cards for the residents. There are also organizations like the Nursing Home Card Project that collect and distribute cards for nursing homes and care facilities.
Record Your Memories of Your Grandparents
When my grandpa died, I was heartbroken. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's for several years and didn't recognize me anymore. It was comforting to know that when he died, he was no longer in pain, but the loss of his physical body made me truly mourn his mind and his personality, which had slowly been robbed by Alzheimer's. I suddenly felt this immense desire to remember everything I could about my grandpa so that I could explain to the next generation who this great man was that they'll never meet. I wanted to record everything I could remember so that I wouldn't forget any of the little details, like his big hands, what his glasses looked like, or how he came to every dance recital and band concert as I grew up.
When my extended family gathered for the funeral, I kept a running list on my phone of memories and little things that people remembered about my grandpa. People brought up little things that I had forgotten about, like how he always said his favorite color was yellow because he was "chicken" or how he always carried a pen.
On days when I feel sad about my grandpa, I can pull out my list and smile. Remembering him helps to ease the ache. He was such an important and influential person in my life, and I want the next generation to be able to get to know him through my memories.
FamilySearch Memories
This Grandparents Day, sit down with your grandparents and other important older people in your life and learn about their life stories. Ask them questions, and record their answers for you and future generations to remember.
With FamilySearch Memories, you can upload photos and documents, type stories, and even voice-record your relatives telling their own experiences that you can then share with other family members and friends. For deceased ancestors, you can attach these memories to their information card on the FamilySearch Family Tree for others to see as well. Check out this article on how to make a memory private so only you can see it. You can either use FamilySearch Memories on a computer or download the app from the Play Store or the Apple Store on your phone.
If these memories are digitized and stored online, you won't have to worry about precious documents and photos getting lost and destroyed. Recording and preserving these memories will help you remember your grandparents for many years to come.
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