National Daughters Day on September is a day to celebrate and cherish our daughters who bring so much love and into our lives. Although we don’t really need a reason to celebrate our children, it’s nice to be given the opportunity to pay our daughters some extra attention and show them how much they are loved.
Why We Celebrate National Daughters Day:
On National Daughter Day we remember to show unconditional love to the guardian of our family trust, our beautiful, witty, creative, and sometimes, demanding daughters. For aging parents, especially, a daughter maintains a level of connectivity and commitment that keeps families together and healthy. (Of course, that’s not to say that sons don’t do their part. But today, we’re talking exclusively about daughters!)
This time of year is a great time to be a daughter. Not long after National Daughters Day comes National Transfer Money to Your Daughter Day. Yep, October 6 is an entire day devoted to daughters getting some extra pocket money from their parents. If you parents don’t believe in this holiday then you’d better forward it on and set them straight!
History of National Daughters Day
The original meaning behind this day may have blossomed in India. Per the Hindustan Times: “Unlike other countries in the world, there has always been a certain stigma attached to being a girl child in India, and while this may no longer be the case in the big cities, it is still quite widespread in India. When a woman gives birth to a girl she is penalized.” While developing countries often see daughters as a burden, other nations celebrate.
We might also view this day in the context of the #metoo movement — especially in the U.S. — where women have faced daunting obstacles throughout history. From the very beginning, society viewed women as inferior to men. “The law did not recognize wives’ independence in economic, political, or civic matters in Anglo-American society of the eighteenth century.”
Male privilege dominated at the time. Women did not receive the right to vote until 1920. Up until the 1960s, wives typically stayed at home while husbands worked. In many ways, the U.S. is still shaking off the dust of gender discrimination.
We might view this in the context of the #metoo movement — especially in the U.S. Women have faced daunting obstacles throughout American history. From the very beginning, society viewed women as inferior to men. “The law did not recognize wives’ independence in economic, political, or civic matters in Anglo-American society of the eighteenth century.” Male privilege dominated at the time. This is a much-needed time to focus on girls alone.
With so much emphasis historically placed on the importance of sons (especially in the area of inheritance), the status of having a daughter has often been diminished. In royalty, lines of succession have always flowed from father to son. This tradition still stands with today’s British Royal Family. (And who knows, maybe that should change, giving the women a chance. We think royal sons and daughters should work it out on the soccer field. Then, it’s winner take all— including the crown!)
Now that you’re feeling all warm inside, check out this video from September 18, 2019 showing how one daughter lit up her dad’s life — and then broke his heart — all within seven seconds:
And coming soon: National Sons Day on September 28.
