What Is Día Del Niño: What You Need To Know About the Mexican Tradition
Every blooming year as April winds down, the whole of Mexico transforms into one massive playground. It's Día del Niño—Children's Day—on the 30th, and though you won't find it marked as a bank holiday, blimey, does it make a splash!Schools knock their regular timetables on the head, families shower their little monsters with all manner of treats, and the canny toy shops (no fools, them) knock a few quid off the price tags. But scratch beneath all the balloons and party hats, and you'll stumble upon a rather sobering backstory—a desperate cry for help during some properly rough patches in world history.Celebrations And Responsibilities: What Does Día del Niño Entail? For the little ones, it's like Christmas came early—but with actual learning thrown in. Between dodging proper lessons, they're up to their eyeballs in cultural stuff—some poor teacher reading them stories, kids showing off in talent shows that parents pretend to enjoy, poetry that doesn't quite rhyme, massive school dinners, and the inevitable chaotic school trip.Angela Cervantes, a celebrated Hispanic author, details her experience on her blog: 'At the private school where I taught English, it was celebrated every April 30th. On this special day, they allowed students to show up to school in their pajamas. The last hour of school was devoted to a talent show where students sang, performed folkloric dances, recited poetry, and feasted on fruity paletas! It was a total blast!'For parents and caretakers, Día del Niño is about acknowledging and cherishing the children in their lives and advocating for their well-being. Some parents make Día del Niño a gift-giving occasion much like Christmas or Bajada de Reyes, while others plan a family activity.A Call For Change: Día del Niño's OriginsChildren's Day has global roots tied to the early 20th century when the world was beginning to take children's rights seriously. One of the pioneers behind the movement was British activist Eglantyne Jebb, who was horrified by the suffering of children during and after the First World War. Determined to make a change, she founded Save the Children in 1919, which aimed to save orphans from Austria-Hungary and Germany from starvation.In 1924, Jebb penned what became the 'Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child'. The document outlined every child's right to safety, education, and care— regardless of race, religion, or nationality. The League of Nations— the United Nations' predecessor— adopted it. This was one of the first major steps in officially recognising children's rights on an international scale. Recognising the document's historic importance, Mexican authorities decided to commemorate the event.Mexico's Tradition Now A Worldwide TrendMexican President Álvaro Obregón and Education Minister José Vasconcelos designated 30 April 1924 as the first Día Del Niño.For Mexicans, this day has an extra layer of importance, as it marks the anniversary of the start of the Mexican Revolution.Article 4 of their Constitution, which supports children's rights, coincides with Jebb's beliefs, stating: 'Children have the right to the satisfaction of their needs for food, health, education, and healthy recreation for their comprehensive development.'While Día Del Niño does not constitute a holiday, it remains an important event for families and institutions to celebrate the children in their lives and address pressing issues regarding their well-being.It became a global trend on 1 June 1950 when Women's International Democratic Federation introduced International Children's Day to be celebrated globally on 20 November. The day calls for peace and understanding among the world's children. Several South and Central America nations opted to adopt the Mexican celebration instead by modifying the specific date of the festivities.Latin American Countries Unite to Cherish ChildrenSeveral Latin American countries have joined the Día Del Niño festivities, though not on the same day as Mexico.Cuba, Nicaragua and Ecuador have it on 1 June and El Salvador celebrates on 1 October. Panama and Venezuela's events are every year on the third Sunday of July, while Bolivia and Brasil's are on 12 April and 12 October, respectively. Colombia's Día Del Niño is on the last Saturday of April, and Costa Rica's is on 9 September. The rest are in August, with Chile and Paraguay celebrating on the 6th and 16th, and Uruguay doing so on the second Sunday of August. Argentina and Peru have the event on the third Sunday of the month— 17 August, this year.Recalling festivities in Peru, a writer explains the details of the celebration which are quite similar to the traditions in Mexico. 'We have only four hours of classes, and the rest of the school day is filled with thrilling competitions like dodgeball matches and games of Marco Polo in the pool. We also had poetry recitations, often with determined themes surrounding family, childhood and innocence. At home, my family opted for family outings to the park or the cinema.'When asked that do you need to buy gifts or plan an extravagant outing to a theme park for Día del Niño?, the writer reiterates that the celebrations do not require any expenses.'The day is about actively showing appreciation and care for the children in your life. Reading a book with a young family member, watching their favourite movie or playing a game with them is a great way to spend a special afternoon or evening.'Día Del Niño is not only for Latinos but a global celebration that transcends cultural boundaries.
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