Informative — Holiday
7 Ways to Celebrate the World Kindness Day 2021
World Kindness Day is an international holiday celebrated annually in many countries, including the United States, Italy, Australia, and Japan on November 13th.1 The purpose of the day is to emphasize the importance of kindness. It helps every person to understand the importance of compassion in unifying people and nations. People can pledge and promote acts of kindness as individuals or as organizations. The day presents an opportunity for everyone to reflect on kindness since it is one of the most important and unifying human principles.2
Currently, people and nations are getting divided every day. We may feel powerless to change the situation. However, when we all do small acts of kindness for one another, it helps to make the world a better place. Kindness doesn't need much effort, but it has a significant impact on the people around us. That's the purpose of World Kindness Day: to celebrate kindness and inspire others to do the same.3
During World Kindness Day, everyone worldwide comes together and creates a chain reaction of compassion by performing random acts of kindness for people around strangers and us. You don't need to spend money; you need to do something nice for someone else. The goal is to spread kindness around the globe and to encourage as many people as possible to participate in World Kindness Day 2021.4
History of World Kindness Day
World Kindness Day was first introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement. The organization was formed in 1997 at a conference in Tokyo by various organizations that championed kindness in the world. Twenty-eight nations were involved in the conference that is not related to any religious or political movement.1 The World Kindness movement was officially registered as an official NGO in 2019 under Swiss Law. 2
During the 1997 conference, the written declaration for the inception of World Kindness Day stated the pledge to join together to build a kinder and more compassionate world. The declaration facilitated the launch of World Kindness Day in 1998. As outlined by the World Kindness Movement, the purpose of the day is "to highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us." 3
The day is devoted to promoting small acts of kindness by individuals and organizations to unify people. Since the launch of World Kindness Day, it has achieved global notice. Many events have been created worldwide to celebrate the day, such as concerts; dance mobs; and the distribution of kindness t-shirts, cards, and printouts.2
Although the day is still under unofficial observance, the World Kindness Movement hopes to attain official recognition status by the United States. If successful, World Kindness Day would join the other recognized days of observance, such as the International Day of Peace, Human Rights Day, and World Health Day.1
How to Celebrate World Kindness Day 2021
- Wear a kindness t-shirt. Please take a photo and share it on social media with the hashtag #WorldKindnessDay
- Do random acts of kindness. Be kind to a stranger. Being kind doesn't have to cost money. Simple actions can go a long way to inspire kindness in the world. Go out of your way to be kind to others at your workplace, in school, or your community. Pledge to do one intentional act of kindness. Smile when you walk by others. Hold the door for an older person. Compliment your coworkers for their kindness, or send an encouraging text to at least five people on your contact list.
- Appreciate others for their kindness and generosity. There are kind people around you who do acts of kindness all year long. Appreciate them for their kindness and encourage them to go on with that spirit. Look for opportunities to add kindness to someone's day.
- Buy flowers for your loved ones. Treat a stranger or a friend to a cup of coffee. Offer to help a stranded stranger. Reach out to a family member you haven't talked to in a while, or cook for your sick family member.
- Volunteer in shelters and baby homes. Donate food or toiletries to street families.
- Hug someone. Send an uplifting message to someone who may be stressed.
- Include intentional acts of kindness in your daily routine. For example, allow someone to cut you in traffic with a smile. They are probably in a rush because of an emergency.
Happy World Kindness Day from Mother Earth Products. Get creative and make your list of kind acts for World Kindness Day!
"The world is full of kind people. If you can't find one, be one." – Unknown.
References
- https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/world-kindness-day-2021/
- https://nationaltoday.com/world-kindness-day/
- https://inspirekindness.com/blog/12-ways-to-participate-in-world-kindness-day-2021
- https://inspirekindness.com/blog/world-kindness-day-2021-your-complete-guide#h_150291441271570018428238
Veterans Day History and Its Significance
Veterans Day is an opportunity to celebrate the U.S veterans who fought hard in the world wars, or any other wars, with sacrifice and bravery. It was originally called “Armistice Day,” and it was first celebrated on November 11, 1919.1 Congress passed a resolution to have Veterans Day as a holiday in 1926, and it became a national holiday in 1938.2
Currently, it is celebrated annually on November 11 to honor the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918 when the World War I ended.3 It is crucial that all Americans understand the Veterans Day history and know why it is important to celebrate it every year in honor of former service members.
Veterans Day History
Veterans Day was formerly known as Armistice Day. It was a U.S holiday that was set aside to commemorate the end of World War 1. 1 Although World War 1 officially ended on June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, the actual cease fire between the Allies and Germany was on November 11, 1918.4
It became a holiday in the United States in 1926. It was commemorated as Armistice Day in honor of World War I veterans. The date was dedicated to the cause of world peace. On 1st June 1954, the name was changed from Armistice Day to Veterans Day by the 83rd U.S Congress strike out the word “Armistice” and inserted “Veterans” by amending the Act of 1938.2 The move was because the country had been through both World War II and the Korean War after the veterans' service organizations pushed for the change.
After the approval of the legislation on June 1, 1954, on November 11, it became a holiday to honor American veterans who had fought in all wars. However, in 1968, in a bid to have three day weekends for federal employees, who saw that all four national holidays (Washington’s Birthday, Columbus Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day) were celebrated on Mondays, the Veterans Day commemoration was moved to the fourth Monday of October via the Uniforms Holiday Bill by the Congress.1
The first Veterans Day under the new law was celebrated on October 25th, 1971. Many states of America did not approve of this move, and they continued to observe the holiday on the original date. On September 20, 1975, the Veterans Day commemoration was returned to its original date when President Gerald Ford signed a law a bill that reverted the holiday to November 11. 1 In 1978, Congress approved the change to the original date in 1978. The change was because November 11 had historical significance to most Americans. From then forward, Veterans Day is observed on November 11.3
The difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day
Most Americans confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day. Veterans Day commemorates all veterans, living or dead, who served in the military with special gratitude to living veterans who have served the country during war or peacetime, while Memorial Day celebrates military service members who died while in service to their country or due to the injuries sustained during battle
Celebrating the Veterans Day in America
Currently Veterans Day is commemorated every November 11th. If the holiday falls on Saturday, the federal government observes the holiday on Friday, while if it falls on Sunday, the government celebrates it on Monday. State governments decide when to close for the holiday. However, for non-governmental institutions and businesses, they can close or remain open at their discretion without the influence of the federal, state, or local government operation.
The Senate passed Resolution 143 on August 4, 2001, and established the week of November 11 until November 17, 2001, as the National Veterans Awareness Week. The resolutions seek to increased awareness at elementary and secondary school students about the sacrifice and effort of the veterans to the United States.2
Celebrating Veterans Day in other countries
November 11th is a national holiday in France and most allied nation’s countries. Countries that celebrate veterans include Britain, France, and Australia. These countries celebrate the veterans who fought during World War I and World War II on November 11th or any close date to it.2
In France and Belgium, it is celebrated as Armistice Day. In Britain and most commonwealth nations, it is celebrated as Remembrance Sunday on the second Sunday of November, while in Canada, they celebrate Remembrance Day.3 In Europe, including Britain as well as commonwealth counties, people observe two minutes of silence at 11.am every November 11. However, it is not a public holiday.4
Interesting Veterans Facts
Veterans include men and women who have served in the US military to protect the country and its people. They are from all economic classes and are an important parts of their communities. Currently, there are 18.2 million veterans who are alive and served in at least one war as of 2018; nine percent of them are women. Seven percent of them served during the Vietnam War, seven million of them served during the Persian Gulf War, and two million of them served during the Korean War. Most veterans are from Connecticut as of 2018, and they make up the highest percentage of World War II veterans.3
It is important to note that 496,777 out of the 16 million veterans who fought during World War II were still alive as of 2018. The top three states with the highest percentage of veterans as of 2017 include Alaska, Maine, and Montana.3
Veterans Day celebrations are an important holiday in the U.S. to celebrate all veterans who serve or have served in the military. It includes ceremonies, parades and speeches, and community events. Most restaurants, food stores, and companies, including Mother Earth Products, also honor the veterans and the families with special offers and discounts and at times, free meals.
References
