2025.09.20 – Children’s Day in Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Venezuela, Spain, Japan, China, and the United Nations

Summary

Children’s Day, also called Day of the Child or Day of Childhoods, is celebrated worldwide on different dates. In Argentina, it takes place on the second Sunday of August, while in Mexico it is on April 30, in Brazil on October 12, in Chile on the first Sunday of August, in Uruguay on the second Sunday of August, in Peru on the second Sunday of April, and in Venezuela on the third Sunday of July. Spain observes it on April 15, Japan on May 5, and China on June 1. The United Nations established November 20 as Universal Children’s Day. Each date has its own historical, cultural, or political reasons.

Context and Scope

Children’s Day emerged as an international initiative in the twentieth century to recognize children as rights-bearing individuals and to emphasize their protection, education, and well-being. The day has been adopted differently across countries, sometimes with commercial motivations, sometimes with cultural or religious connections, and in other cases with legal or political intentions.

Exhaustive Narrative of Facts

In Argentina, the Day of the Child began in 1960, promoted by the Argentine Chamber of Toys. It was originally held on the first Sunday of August. In 2003, the date moved to the second Sunday of August to avoid overlapping with national elections. Since 2013, the second Sunday of August has been its fixed date. In 2020, the name officially changed to “Day of Childhoods” to use inclusive language. The month of August was chosen for practical reasons: it fell between other major consumer celebrations such as Christmas, Epiphany, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day, offering an opportunity for toy sales and coinciding with the return to school after winter holidays. In 2025, the date falls on August 10.

Chile celebrates on the first Sunday of August, while Uruguay observes it on the second Sunday of August. Mexico celebrates on April 30. This date was chosen in 1959 during the presidency of Adolfo López Mateos, when Mexico ratified the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. The government selected April 30 as a convenient day in the school calendar because it did not conflict with religious or national holidays and allowed school events to be organized.

Brazil celebrates on October 12. This coincides with the Day of Our Lady of Aparecida, the country’s patron saint, linking the children’s holiday to a religious observance. Peru celebrates on the second Sunday of April. Venezuela marks it on the third Sunday of July.

Spain observes April 15, although the United Nations date of November 20 is also recognized. Japan celebrates on May 5, known as Kodomo no Hi. China, along with many countries in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia, celebrates on June 1.

The June 1 celebration originated in 1925 during the World Conference on the Welfare of Children in Geneva, when the Chinese consul in San Francisco organized festivities for Chinese orphans on that date. In 1949, the Women’s International Democratic Federation, meeting in Moscow, officially established June 1 as International Day for Protection of Children. This date was adopted by the Soviet Union and later spread to many countries.

The United Nations General Assembly in 1954 declared November 20 as Universal Children’s Day to promote fraternity and understanding among children worldwide. The date is symbolic because on November 20, 1959, the Declaration of the Rights of the Child was adopted, and on November 20, 1989, the Convention on the Rights of the Child was signed. The November 20 observance emphasizes legal commitments and rights, whereas the June 1 observance historically focused on social celebration and protection after the Second World War.

The central idea behind all these dates is to recognize children as subjects of rights, promote their well-being, and highlight their protection, although the motivations differ: commercial strategies in Argentina, legal ratification in Mexico, religious connection in Brazil, historical decisions in China and Eastern Europe, and United Nations initiatives for universal rights.

Practical Takeaways

• Argentina celebrates on the second Sunday of August due to commercial and calendar reasons, fixed in 2013, renamed Day of Childhoods in 2020.
• Mexico celebrates on April 30, chosen in 1959 as a practical school calendar date linked to ratification of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.
• Brazil celebrates on October 12, coinciding with the religious feast of Our Lady of Aparecida.
• Chile and Uruguay celebrate in August, on the first and second Sundays respectively.
• Peru marks the day on the second Sunday of April, while Venezuela celebrates on the third Sunday of July.
• Spain recognizes April 15, Japan celebrates May 5, and China observes June 1.
• June 1 spread internationally after 1925 and 1949 initiatives in Geneva and Moscow, focusing on peace and protection of children.
• The United Nations declared November 20 as Universal Children’s Day, marking both the 1959 Declaration and the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child.
• Motivations for the dates include commerce, religion, political decisions, school convenience, post-war peace initiatives, and international legal commitments.