What is Children's Day?
Children's Day is a day to celebrate children and to draw attention to their wellbeing and rights, but the date and the traditions differ from country to country. In Romania it is Ziua Copilului on 1 June, which is a public holiday. Children receive gifts and treats, schools and local authorities hold events, and many museums, zoos and cultural venues offer free or discounted admission for families. For many families the day is an occasion for outings and for small presents. Many people regard it as a family-centred holiday that has kept its popularity.
The date of 1 June is shared with many other countries, which follow the tradition of International Children's Day, set in the late 1940s by the Women's International Democratic Federation. The United Nations has a separate Universal Children's Day on 20 November, which marks the 1959 Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child. Other countries, for example Turkey on 23 April, have their own national children's days. Local councils often hold concerts, workshops and sports events. The date has also been used by charities to raise awareness of children's rights.
Why it is observed
International Children's Day on 1 June was first celebrated in 1950 in many socialist countries and became a tradition in Romania during the communist era, when it was marked with school events. It continued after 1989, and in 2017 the Romanian Parliament made 1 June a day off from work, which was a new public holiday. In other countries the day grew out of different traditions: for example, in Japan, Kodomo no Hi on 5 May has roots in older festivals, and in Turkey, 23 April commemorates the founding of the Grand National Assembly in 1920.
How the date is set
The date depends on the country. In Romania, Children's Day is fixed on 1 June. In other countries it is on other dates, such as 5 May in Japan and South Korea, 1 June in China and Mongolia, and 23 April in Turkey.
How it is observed
In Romania, 1 June is a public holiday, which means that banks, offices and schools are closed, and public events for families are held in parks and city centres. Many shops stay open, and restaurants and leisure venues are busy. In other countries where Children's Day is celebrated, it may or may not be a day off. Check the country's holiday page. Pay and time off depend on national law and the contract. Visitors may find parks and attractions crowded. Cinemas, zoos and parks often have special programmes, so booking ahead may help.
Romania