When is Grandparents Day?

What and when is Grandparents Day? Grandparents Day is a day to remember, honor and if possible, visit with our grandparents. It falls on the Sunday after Labor Day.

Grandparents Day was the brain child of Marian McQuade, from West Virginia. She wanted a day to remember all grandparents, but especially those who were living alone or in nursing homes. She felt that grandchildren should be aware of the heritage and wisdom that grandparents could provide.

She campaigned first in West Virginia where she was successful, for in 1973, West Virginia became the first state to honor grandparents by setting aside a special day for them.

In 1978, she received a call from the White House to tell her that President Jimmy Carter had signed a bill making the Sunday after Labor Day National Grandparents Day, to begin in 1979.

In 1989, the U.S. Postal Service issued a tenth anniversary commemorative envelope showing the likeness of Marian McQuade in honor of National Grandparents day.

These days, many schools make Grandparents Day a project, having the children make crafts for their grandparents. Children are encouraged to write to their grandparents asking them questions about their lives, or thanking them for something. Others may make up a genealogy tree, or record an interview with a grandparent.

For a few ideas for Grandparents Day crafts click here