Origins and purpose
International Children’s Day is celebrated every year on 1 June. Proclaimed in 1949 and first observed in 1950, it draws attention to children’s rights, health and wellbeing. In Bulgaria, where it is known as Den na deteto, meaning Children’s Day, the celebration has a long tradition.
It is separate from the United Nations’ World Children’s Day on 20 November. That observance marks the date on which the Declaration of the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.
Public holiday status
Children’s Day is not a public holiday or a day off in Bulgaria. It is a normal working day, even though the occasion is widely marked with celebrations and activities for children.
Celebrations and family activities
Cities organise concerts, pavement drawing, sports games, free museum visits and entertainment for children. Kindergartens and schools hold celebrations of their own. Parents may give children toys or books, or spend time together outdoors.
Family activities for the day include walks in a park or the mountains, visits to a zoo or museum, and children’s performances. Many theatres, museums and attractions offer special programmes or reduced prices for children on 1 June.
The occasion also coincides with the end of the school year for the youngest pupils. For many children in Bulgaria, Children’s Day therefore marks the beginning of summer as well as a day of celebrations.