A happy family - large, friendly, filled with love and warmth - has always been the greatest value. After all, a family is the start of a new life, the development of personality, the repository of long-standing good traditions, joy, support, and understanding. It is not for nothing that the family is called the unit of society. And of course, it would be unfair not to establish a special holiday date in her honor. Every year on May 15, people all over the world celebrate International Family Day, remembering on this day the special importance of family and friends, raising many global issues that are related to family and its core values.
history of the holiday
The formation of the family developed parallel to the development of socio-political formations. The emergence of the institution of marriage made it possible to introduce stability and reliability into the relationship between a man and a woman. The official union distributed functional responsibilities between them depending on the contribution of each to the monogamous relationship. At any time, the main functions of the family were the birth and upbringing of children, the formation of their civic consciousness.
Unfortunately, today issues related to the main unit of society are acute. One of the problems on the scale of almost all civilized countries is the demographic situation. Birth rates are sometimes lower than mortality figures. Alcohol abuse, the distribution of narcotic and toxic substances, and antisocial behavior lead to the destruction of family relationships. The growth of single-parent families is a consequence of the catastrophic increase in the number of divorces. The purpose of the International Day of Families is to draw the attention of the public of states to these problems. The holiday was established by UN General Assembly resolution No. A/REC/47/237 of September 20, 1993.
All these pressing issues have not only been taken into account by governments around the world, but active work is underway to resolve them. Many measures taken are aimed at economic support. For example, in Russia a number of measures and benefits have been developed for large and low-income families when purchasing housing and providing a place in preschool institutions. The Maternity Certificate program allows families to receive a number of advantages in solving issues that are vital to them.
A lot of propaganda work is being done to strengthen family ties. Restoring the authority of the family and stable relations between its members is the basis for the progressive movement forward of all socio-economic phenomena of society.
All-Russian Family Day of Love and Fidelity July 8
This event is celebrated on July 8th. In the Orthodox Church on this day they honor the memory of Peter and Fevronia - saints who are a symbol of the pious family in Rus'. The date of official recognition of the event by the Federation Council is March 26, 2008.
The symbol of the event is a chamomile flower. A good tradition of the holiday has become the presentation of commemorative medals to outstanding families of Russia. In addition, the state presents gifts to such social units, the number of which grows every year.
Chamomile is a symbol of Family Day, love and fidelity
A brief excursion into the Russian history of the holiday: the holy spouses Peter and Fevronia and the history of their marital happiness
The history of the holiday originates from the lives of the saints - Peter and Fevronia. Peter is one of the sons of Prince Yuri Vladimirovich, who sat in Murom. The boy, as a teenager, fell ill with leprosy. The disease did not give up. But one night the young man dreamed that the daughter of a beekeeper named Fevronia could cure him. The girl knew about herbal treatment. Peter fell in love with Fevronia and promised to take her as his wife when his health returned to him. But the prince did not keep his words. Soon the leprosy returned, Peter turned to the girl again. She healed him, and this time the prince did not risk breaking his vow.
The Day of Family, Love and Fidelity coincides in Russia with the day of celebrating the memory of St. Blessed Peter and Fevronia
The time has come for Peter to accept the reign. But the boyars did not approve of his choice of wife, since the girl was not of noble blood. As soon as he learned about the possible separation from his beloved, Peter renounced the title and left Murom with her. Very soon after this event, the city was in turmoil, and the nobility stopped getting along with each other. As a result, it was decided to call the prince back. Peter and Fevronia returned, after which they ruled for a long time and successfully.
Traditions
Various discussions, conferences, and festivals dedicated to family issues are held for the holiday. Every year, the International Day of Families is held under a specific theme, on which the UN Secretary-General publishes messages in which he highlights the main problems and possible solutions to them.
In all Russian cities, a festive program is being prepared for the celebration: concerts, entertainment events, games for parents and children, flash mobs. Meetings of married couples are organized to exchange experiences, trainings for young families, charity events for large and low-income families, guardians with children.
On this day, radio and television broadcast reports on family topics.
How to celebrate and to whom to give what?
At the family level, it is appropriate to spend the day together. In 2021, May 15 is Saturday. This is a great chance for all family members to spend the whole day doing some kind of activity. Let it be a joint trip to nature, a visit to some cultural event, a trip to the zoo. Time spent together is priceless, especially in the current frantic pace of life, when everyone has no time, when everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere.
We so often lack family communication, and the more we rush somewhere, the less we notice the problem. But the attention paid to your family is so important.
You can arrange a festive dinner, hold a family competition, or simply review photo albums and videos of general family celebrations together.
Gifts are usually not given on this day, but everyone can do something nice for their family.
Interesting Facts
- In ancient Rome, official marriage was concluded with a kiss.
- According to world statistics, after 7 years of married life, the likelihood of divorce decreases by 50%.
- Chinese man Zion Han, who lives in India, has acquired the largest family in the world. He was married to 39 women, who bore him 94 children. The family history was continued by 33 grandchildren.
- According to statistics, married men and married women live longer than those who never got married or got divorced.
- The tradition of wearing a wedding ring on the ring finger comes from Ancient Egypt. The Egyptians believed that it was in this finger that the vein of love originated, which carried blood to the heart.
- According to observations, the most common song for the first dance among newlyweds is Bryan Adams' ballad "Everything I Do."
Family
Every person's life, of course, begins with family. It is here that we learn love, respect, joy, goodness. Family helps us get acquainted with the world around us, expanding our horizons. It protects us from any troubles, maintaining strength and health.
Our first step towards creating our own surname is the search for a soul mate and a conscious decision to unite our destinies forever. The desire to help each other, to serve as support and support unites and makes the family closer. We consider it completely natural that our purpose is to give life to new people, to raise and educate them as worthy members of society. Only a full-fledged family can help a person get on his feet, lead a working life and build his own dynasty.
Toasts
“The real value in life is family and friends. Congratulations on Family Day and wish you mutual understanding, happiness, bright plans and many interesting activities. May the family always be a strong rock, protection from adversity and consolation in troubles. Love, beauty, a good future, prosperity and joint development!
“There is no stronger union on earth than a happy and friendly family. This is the beginning of a new life, and the continuation of a wonderful family, and honoring the holiness of traditions. Family is the highest happiness that a person can create himself. Today, on International Family Day, I would like to wish: may children’s laughter be heard everywhere, and may your family be your faithful support. May you always be warmed by the warmth of love. I wish your family to be prosperous, friendly and united. Prosperity and goodness to all families!
“Without exaggeration we can say: family is the most important thing a person is rich with. Support, rear, support, understanding. Let everyone today remember their family and friends, call, write, congratulate and rejoice at what a treasure they have. Happy International Family Day, dears!
How to spend this day profitably?
This day should be celebrated in a close family circle. It's more important than ever to do something together. It could be a game, or some useful activity, sport, or just relaxation.
The main thing is that all family members have fun and unite.
5 ideas on how to spend a holiday:
- Take part in a promotion or competition dedicated to International Family Day.
- Take family photos as a keepsake.
- Play a board game or an active team game. For example, Monopoly or volleyball.
- Gather at the table and discuss family values, talk about family traditions, remember the history of the birth of the family, draw a family tree.
- Write a story together on the topic: “My loved ones in a year,” express dreams and wishes. Seal in an envelope. Read the letter in a year.
Present
Family tree. A family tree that shows family ties and depicts the first known descendants will be an original and thematic gift for the holiday.
Family picnic. Arrange a picnic for your family members outside the city, at the dacha or in the park. Organize competitions and entertainment. Such a gift will bring positive emotions to all household members and will become a vivid memory.
Family portrait. Order a family portrait in an unusual style for the holiday. A bright and colorful painting will become a home decoration and a new family heirloom.
Photo gift. A collage, magnets, T-shirts, mugs with funny family photos will be an original and thematic gift for the holiday.
Family traditions - a creative workshop of love
Family traditions are a huge workshop in which everything is intertwined - inspiration, play, joy, creativity, skill, precision, art... Traditions inspire the space of events and create the atmosphere of our home... What is the atmosphere of our family like? It is known that every family has its own “living soul”, in which there is a blooming Garden of Eden, and springs of “living” water, and mighty trees with branches reaching high into the sky and roots deep into the ground... Good traditions like these springs strengthen and revitalize the family. Family is a great service: marriage, parenthood, childhood. From time immemorial, it was the woman in all nations who was destined to know, collect experience of traditions and rituals, and lead them in everyday life. This was an essential part of women's culture. Each clan and family has its own treasury of traditions, which, together with the dowry in forged chests, were passed on to children as an inheritance. These traditions are a treasure of the spirit, a golden fund in our culture of spiritual and moral heritage. “Tradition” is translated from Latin as transmission, “continuity.” Such “transmission” includes all forms of perception and everything is imprinted: words, actions, tastes, smells, colors, clothes, space design. Therefore, the tradition of celebrating the New Year “smells” like a Christmas tree and snow, “sounds” like wishes for the New Year, and “tastes”...! In every home, this is one of the most “delicious” holidays, because they welcome the desired “guest” - the new (next) year.
Competitions
I won’t eat it, but I’ll bite it. To hold the competition, you need to prepare two baskets of apples. Two participants take part in the competition. At the command of the presenter, the contestants take apples from the basket and bite into them. After the time has passed, the number of apples bitten is counted. The one who has the most wins.
By touch To conduct the competition, you need to prepare thick mittens (you can use oven mitts) and small souvenirs: a Rubik's Cube, a keychain, a ballpoint pen, and so on. Contestants are blindfolded. They put on the item and, using mittens, try to guess the item they received by touch. The one who guesses correctly receives a souvenir as a gift.
12 months Two teams take part in the competition. Each team is given 12 sheets of paper and drawing supplies: pencils, markers, paints. Each team must depict 12 months in their own artistic style. After the work is completed, the teams exchange drawings and try to match the drawings with the names of the months. The team that completes the task better wins.
How well has this holiday taken root in Russia?
Peter and Fevronia Day has a semantic component that combines St. Valentine's Day and Family Day. On the one hand, this is truly a full-fledged answer to Saint Valentine. The holiday is based not only on love, but also on spiritual and moral values. On the other hand, married couples themselves have not gotten used to the new holiday over the past 12 years, as evidenced by sociological surveys on the Internet. Perhaps the reason is that the new calendar date is served under some kind of official sauce, which residents do not associate with sincerity and simplicity. Or perhaps the reason is completely different and too little time has passed for the holiday to take root in our culture and become a truly important date for every family.
In any case, there is never too much love. Therefore, do not forget to congratulate your partner or life partner on the holiday on July 8 and spend the day with your family.
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About family
It is difficult to underestimate the role of the family in society. It is in it that the foundation of the personality of each person is laid, the continuity of all subsequent generations. A family is a social institution in which a child reveals the potential inherent in nature and determines his place in life, learns goodness, justice and creativity. The further dynamic development of social phenomena directly depends on the personal characteristics of each person and his contribution to the creative process. Government bodies of all countries pay special attention to the formation of family relationships as a guarantor of stability and well-being.
Description and meaning
The Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes the family as the fundamental unit of society and the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all its members, and in particular children. She calls for all necessary protection and assistance in the performance of her duties.
Today it is obvious that family relationships are a necessary factor for the formation of personality. Without them, it is impossible to raise a full-fledged person, just as it is impossible to restore the state without restoring the family. That is why family values are so ardently promoted.
How do European states support families?
Family Day has become quite popular in European countries, where low birth rates are a global problem. This issue is relevant for countries with well-developed economies.
European countries are trying to solve fertility problems through subsidies.
The Big Family program is popular among the French, but on the basis of which families receive tax breaks at the birth of a baby. Thus, families with four children are exempt from paying almost all taxes.
German parents with many children have tax benefits from the state, as well as a pleasant bonus in the form of a monthly allowance for a child in the amount of 155 euros.
Sweden provides for an increase in benefits with the birth of a new family member. And for the poor, additional payments are provided.
