With Grandparents Day on the 4th of October fast approaching, it’s time to figure out how you’re going to be celebrating it this year.
With 2015 being the year of Julie Walters, Stevie Wonder and Dr Phil turning 65 years young and becoming grandparents, it’s the year to celebrate the day in style.
History of Grandparents Day
Marian McQuade has been nationally recognized as the founder of National Grandparents Day, after making it her goal in 1973 to educate the youth in her West Virginia community about the importance of grandparents in their everyday life and throughout history.
However, the celebration didn’t make its way to the UK until 1990 where it was introduced by Age Concern and has been celebrated on the first Sunday in October since 2008.
National Grandparents Day also has a flower associated with it, specifically the Forget-Me-Not which is traditionally given to grandparents in celebrating of the day.
Now that you know a brief history of the celebratory day, it’s time to decide how you should celebrate it. With millions of dedicated grandparents scattered throughout the UK, Grandparents Day provides the perfect opportunity to tap into the wisdom and heritage of our older relatives.
Here are some great ways to enjoy National Grandparents Day this year:
1. Invite them over and play a board game
Why not invite your beloved grandparents to your home and play their favorite board game from their youth. If you don’t have it, there’s no reason you can’t purchase it online for a good price.
Get the whole family involved and allow the youngsters to learn from their elders – of a time when iPads and technology were just a dream.
2. Cook Grandma’s favorite chicken pie!
Get your family together and cook a slap up meal! Why not follow the recipe of your grandma’s signature dish – whether that’s a legendary chicken pie or those gorgeous scones which you just can’t get in the shops.
Naturally, your grandmother will be in charge and supervising the cooking.
3. Take a trip down memory lane
Why not make a trip with your grandparents to where they grew up? Allow them to take you where they enjoyed their former years – they could even show you where they first met!
This is great for both your grandparents and the younger members of the family as there really isn’t anything better than learning from your elders.
4. Make a mixed CD!
Why not combine all of your grandparent’s favorite songs from their era on a CD? No doubt they’ll love to hear a bit of Tommy Dorsey, Bing Crosby , and Artie Shaw!
You could even put the CD on for them and get everyone up dancing over a nice warm cup of tea. This is sure to keep your beloved elders feeling young and get those hips moving!
5. Host a family reunion
If you ask us, Grandparents Day is the perfect opportunity to host a family reunion. Invite some distant relatives that your grandparents never get the chance to see and give them plenty of notice to ensure everyone can make it.
This is a great way to show them that you love them and it’s the ideal gift that you can be sure they’ll enjoy.
6. Create a book
This is the perfect gift if you have young children. Simply call it “why we love our grandparents” and stick lots of photographs you have inside it as well as writing a list of reasons why you these special family members so much.
This could include the number of hugs they give, the secret cake recipe grandma keeps to herself and all the other treats they offer. This is sure to put a smile on any grandparents’ face!
7. Make a family tree together
Get all the family photographs out and sit and make a family tree with your grandparents. This is the ideal opportunity for them to begin reminiscing and talking about their relatives and it’s also something the whole family can keep for years to come.
Perfect!
8. Learn a new hobby
Get your grandparent to teach you their favourite hobby – you could learn to knit with your grandma or fish with your grandad. The ideal day if you ask us!
9. Watch a family movie
Come on, we all have those embarrassing family movies where you’re in a nappy running around with a big smile on your face…probably dribbling!
Well, believe it or not, your grandparents would probably love to see these and relive fond memories. So, pull up a chair and get the popcorn ready for a trip down memory lane.
Ensure you celebrate this Grandparents Day with your loved ones and learn from the values your elders have maintained all these years by spending time with them and sending a delightful gift from Serenata!
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