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Global Family Day

We Are Family

January 1 marks New Year’s Day, but it’s also a global day of peace and sharing. Global Family Day is celebrated by sharing food with the needy and enjoying meals with family. On this day, many people make personal pledges of nonviolence and spread messages of peace and sharing.

It celebrates the family unit and whoever provides leadership for the family. Global Family Day also recognizes that we’re all connected and part of one big global family.

Global Family Day came to fruition via efforts by the United Nations. EarthTimes.org provides information on its evolution.

“In November 1997 the UN General Assembly made a declaration that the first year of the new millennium should see the launch of an International Decade for the Culture of Peace and non-violence for the Children of the World and that the decade should be ushered in by ‘One Day of Peace.’”

In November 1999, all UN member states received a formal invitation to participate. A vote by the United States Congress established the first day of the year as a special time of peace and sharing.

Although not universally adopted, this first “Day of Peace” was so significant that, in 2001, the UN established it as an annual event, which is now renowned as Global Family Day. More than two-third of the world’s population now recognize this holiday.

Family plays a significant role in Ancient Greek literature, including Antigone by Sophocles. Messages of peace are also prevalent in The Peace of Aristophanes in which the character Trygaeus sets out to rescue the allegorical figure of Peace.

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens also demonstrates strong family leadership. Although the character Daniel Peggoty isn’t David’s biological father, he takes on that role demonstrating leadership of the family--something that would be celebrated on Global Family Day.

It’s important to note that this day marks a different celebration than International Day of Families, held in May and also affiliated with the UN.

By Regina Molaro