It is said that the celebration of Children’s Day in Mexico (Dia del Niño en Mexico) had its origin in the city of Tantoyuca, Veracruz, in the year 1916. Officially, the Mexican government celebrated this day for the first time on April 30, 1924.
Dia del Niño History
Summary of Día del Niño in Mexico and around the world:
The history of Children’s Day dates back to May 8, 1916, when in the city of Tantoyuca, Veracruz, it was recognized and celebrated for the first time in Mexico.
President Álvaro Obregón and Minister of Education José Vasconcelos officially established Children’s Day in Mexico on April 30, beginning its celebration in 1924.
Eglantyne Jebb, founder of the Save the Children organization, with the help of the International Red Cross, pushed the League of Nations to adopt the first Declaration of the Rights of Children on September 26, 1924.
Children’s Day was first proclaimed during the World Conference on Child Welfare held in Geneva in 1925. Since then, this day has been celebrated on June 1 in many countries.
On April 12, 1952, the Organization of American States (OAS) and UNICEF drafted the Declaration of Universal Principles for the Child.
In 1954, the General Assembly of the United Nations recommended that a Universal Children’s Day be instituted in all countries.
In 1959, the UN established November 20 as the date for the universal commemoration of Children’s Day.
On December 4, 2014, the General Law on the Rights of Children and Adolescents was published in Mexico. The purpose of the law is to recognize children and adolescents as holders of rights; guarantee their respect and protection, and promotion of their human rights, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
When is Dia del Niño?
In Mexico, Children’s Day is officially celebrated every April 30. Internationally, the UN established the celebration on November 20, however, in many countries it is still celebrated on June 1, as it was established in 1924. The truth is that there is no world day, that is, it is celebrated around the world, but the date can change at the discretion and convenience of governments.
In the case of Mexico, November 20 is a statutory holiday to commemorate the Mexican Revolution, which is why that day could not be established for children, in addition to the fact that the celebration in the country dates from 1916.
In Mexico, the General Law defines children as people who are under 12 years of age. According to data from the Population and Housing Census, in 2020, 25.2 million people from 0 to 11 years old resided in Mexico; which represented 20% of the total number of people in Mexican territory (126 million). Their distribution by sex was 12.4 million girls (49.3%) and 12.8 million boys (50.7%).
What is Children’s Day in Mexico?
For a boy or a girl in Mexico, this is a day to receive many joys such as receiving gifts and going to have fun accompanied by their parents. They go to the movies, the park, the circus, the shopping center or any other place or event organized for children to spend an unforgettable day.
Many children will be able to go to school, but not to study, but to party, celebrate with their teachers and classmates, receive candies, eat cake and snacks, dress up as their favorite cartoon character and much more. In some schools it is a day to organize festivals, even inviting parents to accompany their children. Children sing, organize games and competitions. A full day full of fun.
Unfortunately, the Dia del Niño en Mexico is within the holidays, but not mandatory rest. So many parents must wait until they get off work to spend time with their kids.
