Grandparents Day

Grandparents Day is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day. It’s a meaningful day dedicated to honoring the unique bond between grandparents and grandchildren.

History of Grandparents Day

The roots of Grandparents Day stretch back to the early 1960s, when Jacob Reingold first observed a Grandparents Day at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale in New York, following the 1961 White House Conference on Aging. Meanwhile, Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade of West Virginia began campaigning in the early 1970s, firstly inspiring her home state to proclaim a Grandparents Day in 1973. ¹

Her advocacy efforts paid off at the national level: in 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a proclamation establishing the day as the first Sunday after Labor Day, beginning in 1979, with an intent to honor grandparents and encourage children to “adopt a grandparent”—not just for a day, but as an ongoing relationship.

Why is Grandparents Day important?

It’s something that quietly warms your heart to think that families pause, even if just for a few hours, to remind grandparents how much their wisdom, stories, and love mean. This day invites us to slow down, look across generations, and treasure the people who’ve shaped our lives with their presence and memory.

This day underscores connection—not just personal, but cultural and historical. Grandparents serve as living links to our past, grounding us in traditions, values, and family lore that might otherwise fade. Taking a moment on their special day to listen, laugh, and learn feels gentle but profound—a reminder that love and legacy go hand in hand.

Here are some simple, heartfelt reasons it matters:

• it recognizes how grandparents strengthen us with their memories and love
• it gently encourages families to spend quality time across generations
• it highlights the quiet power of storytelling and shared history
• it gives grandchildren a chance to say “thank you” in ways that matter
• it reminds us that empathy and connection can heal loneliness

This wonderful family holiday can become a beautiful family tradition for strengthening family ties and creating strong family bonds.

How to Observe Grandparents Day

Honestly, celebrating this day doesn’t need grand gestures—just presence and intention. You might invite your grandparents to share a favorite family story, flip through old photos, or simply sit together over tea and conversation. These small, thoughtful moments often stay with both of you long after.

If you’re looking to get creative, consider making a simple card, cooking something they love, or playing a game together. Schools and community groups can also host story-sharing sessions or intergenerational activities that bring young and old together in meaningful ways.

Here are a few down-to-earth ways to celebrate:

• ask a grandparent to tell you about their childhood and really listen
• ask them to tell you about their childhood or youth, and about your relatives
• make or buy a small treat or handwritten card that says “I love you”
• make their little dream or wish come true
• help them clean or repair their home or tidy up their garden.
• invite them to teach you a family recipe or a tradition they cherish
• spend time doing something they enjoy—gardening, walking, or chatting
• visit or if distance is a barrier, call or video chat and share memories

Grandparents Day Dates Table

1. https://grandparentsday.org/[↩]