A family is such an institution which finds individual during a joy as well as sorrow. On this special day of the 15th May, the family day, tell us and make us conscious about the importance of a family to a person. Family is basically constituted of mother, father, sister and brother. But at the periphery, grand parents, uncle, aunt and cousins lie to make a family tree. A family is built up of a home and emotions of the relations.
Getting emotion around a family, an individual finds his energy and identity in this bag world. A family gives a healing touch during sorrow to tide over the difficult times and situation. Thus family is a support system and like a boat to row the turbulent waters of life. In absence of a family a man would be like a nomad, wandering like a stump. A lot of mental problems regarding loneliness will arise, when no body is the caretaker of the person. So every person wants to be knitted around a family to get safety and security.
On the ocassion of any celebration all the members of a family unite and make merriment, thus enjoying in the web of emotions. Thus a family to a person is like mother's milk to a child which nourishes him physically, mentally and emotionally. A peraon ultimately gets refuge in his family for protection from outsiders. May 15 is once a year viewed as the International Day of Families.
The intention of this day is to endorse the significance of a strong and well-balanced family. May 15 is an eventful day and holds consequence in today's globe where traditional family scheme is crumbling and giving way to solitary lifestyle. It aspires at fostering equality, bringing about a fuller sharing of domestic errands and employment opportunities. The programmes undertaken to venerate the day, work towards supporting families in the ejection of their functions. They tend to prop up the innate strengths of families, together with their great capacity of self-reliance, and stimulate self-sustaining activities.
This day is a wonderful cue of sheer joy of having an inclusive family. United Nations had first affirmed 1994 as the International Year of Families. Because of the changes taking place in our society and structure of families, the declaration was very vital. Family system has viewed strong changes in numerous countries, chiefly the developed ones. We need to take International Day of the Family critically and rejoice the company of families, relationships, societies and cultures
International Day of the Family witness numerous events and functions organized at local, national and international levels. Campaigns are instigated to strengthen and support family units. Workshops, seminars and policy meeting for civic officials are held at vital places. Awareness raising drives are accomplished all over the world diverse educational and frivolous programs are programmed for brood and youthful inhabitants. This day is packed with carousing and cheerfulness.
May 15 showcases the significance of families. Families are essential units of humanity and possibly the strongest prop up system for any individual. The day reminds us of necessity of promoting lack of prejudice and allocating domestic responsibilities. Families must be supported and should always be counted upon for their role in our lives. The fact that family comprises the essential unit of society, says a lot about value of having a family around you. In modern era, we are fast losing the fine fabric of family as people are being more individualistic. May 15 shows us the right path and reminds us of things that we have started to forget. The International Day of Families is an occasion to commemorate the importance of families to people, societies and cultures around the globe.
What do people do?
A wide range of events are organized at local, national and international levels. These include: workshops, seminars and policy meeting for public officials; exhibitions and organized discussions to raise awareness of the annual theme; educational sessions for children and young people; and the launch of campaigns for public policies to strengthen and support family units. In some countries, tool kits are created to help people organize celebrations aimed at a particular section of the population, such as school children or young adults.Public life
The International Day of Families is a global observance and not a public holiday. On Family Day, many people plan and take part in activities aimed at the whole family. These include visiting art exhibitions, watching movies, skating on outdoor ice rinks, playing board games and taking part in craft activities. Some communities plan special public events, and art galleries and museums may have reduced price or free entry.As the weather is usually very cold in February, hot chocolate and freshly baked cookies are popular snacks. Other people use the long weekend as an opportunity for a short winter break or to travel to visit family members or friends. As Family Day falls on the same date as National Heritage Day, some people use the day to explore their personal heritage and family history.
In the provinces of Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan, many people have a day off work and schools are generally closed on Family Day. Many businesses and organizations are closed, but post offices may be open. Public transport services may run to their usual or reduced timetables.
In the province of Manitoba, the third Monday of February is a general holiday, known as Louis Riel Day. Many people have a day off work and school and many businesses, organizations and stores are closed. In some communities, stores are open after noon. Public transport services may run to Sunday or holiday timetables. In rural areas, there may be no services. In the other provinces and territories of Canada, Family Day is not observed and the third Monday in February is not a holiday. Businesses, organizations, schools and post offices are open as usual and public transport services run to their normal timetables.
Background
The year 1994 was asserted as the International Year of Families by the United Nations. This was a retort to change social and economic structures, which have exaggerated and still affect the composition and firmness of family units in many provinces of the globe. The International Day of Families, on May 15, is a juncture to imitate on the work started during 1994 and to have a good time the significance of families, people, societies and cultures around the world. It has been held every year ever since 1995.Family Day was first seized in Canada in the area of Alberta in 1990. It is believed to reproduce the values of family and home that were vital to the pioneers who founded Alberta, and give workers the occasion to spend more time with their families. Family Day was commenced in Saskatchewan in 2007 and in Ontario in 2008. Holidays to rejoice families are also held in other places around the world.
Symbols
The symbol of the International Day of Families consists of a solid green circle with an image in red. The image consists of elements of simple drawings of a heart and a house. This indicates that families are the center of society and provide a secure and supporting home for people of all ages.Family constitutes the basic unit of society. Hence, the widest possible protection and assistance should be accorded to families so that they fully presume their responsibilities within the society to the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Declaration on Social Progress and Developments and the reunion on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination in opposition to women. What is a family?
According to Murdock, an anthropologist, a family is "a group illustrated by frequent residence, economic cooperation and reproduction. It consists of adults of both sexes, at least two of whom sustain a collectively approved sexual relationship, and one or more of their children of their own or adopted by the sexually cohabit adults."
The Family as a Functional Unit
The biological, emotional and economic needs are the foundation of a family. It grows out of biological needs, particularly those of the expectant mother and the infant child, who cannot support and live by themselves. Every association of people; it be a state, a nation, or a tribe - has its own distinctive culture, its modes of living and thought, which are developed as a response to the peculiar circumstances of the environment, natural and ideological. Family is the agency through which the impressionable rising generation is made familiar with such traditions. It teaches the individual what situations to anticipate, how to behave and what behavior to expect, by giving one the gifts of language and dress which integrate within one's cultural ethos. It facilitates adjustment to people and groups outside the family circle.Family plays an important role in transmission of the cultural traditions from one generation to another. It acts as an educative unit and a socio-cultural agency. The importance of this aspect lies in the fact that children all over the world get their earliest instruction in the family beginning with language.
Distinctive Features of the Family
Family has the following distinctive features:-
Universality: In view of the fact that all aspects of an individual's life, are considerably influenced and made possible by family grouping, it is found all over the world and at all levels of culture. Besides, there is no conclusive or convincing evidence that there ever was a time when this institution did not exist. Modern civilization has not so far succeeded in providing a complete and fully satisfying substitute to this grouping. Family is the most universal and the most important organization for socialization.Emotional basis: The integrative bonds in a family are of mutual affection and blood ties. This emotional basis makes it ideally suited for the all-important role of early education, which makes it an institution of considerable importance as a transmitter of culture.
Educative role: The most plastic year of every individual's life, that is, childhood is spent in the family. It is here that one gets the earliest and the most fundamental lessons in socialization. One is mentally formed according to the norms of society, which get ingrained in one to re-appear in adult life as conscience or super-ego. The cultural traditions that are imbibed by an individual are imbibed in the familial setting, making the formative influence of the family supreme.
Limited size: The family, throughout the world, is characterized by its precision as compared to other types of groupings like the sib or clan for instance.
Nuclear position: With regard to all the diverse types of groupings, family plays an imperative job in so far as it prepares the creature for participation in all these minor groups, for their demands and situations. It serves as the heart for the expansion of other types of groupings which never deal with the cultureless mortal that a newly-born child is.
Sense of responsibility among members: Even though emotions and feelings are the core basis of family life, it is not wholly devoid of motive. A brain of accountability among its members in relation to one another is a feature, which is more lucid and reasoned than emotional and intuitive. This feeling of personal liability towards one another is very vital to make sure the smooth working of the familial grouping and as a result of society as a whole; and, as a result, we find society stepping in to guarantee it through customs and mores.
Social regulations: Society has to make sure, by evolving mores and folkways, that the entity members in a family do carry out all those functions towards each other on the commencement of which the wider system of social relationships is reliant for its success. For instance, there are social restrictions on divorce varying in intensity, in not quite every society.
Persistence and change: Whereas family as an organization is the most eternal and universal one in human societies, as an association it is focus to constant alter in composition and structure, even inside the same society.
Global Trends Emerging in the Family
Some of the general trends in family at present, with the development of industrialization, urbanization, and modernization, are towards greater degree of:Egalitarian family relations, with a lesser amount of sexual segregation and restricted subjugation of women to an inferior status;
- Emphasis on uniqueness and independence;
- Greater differentiation and dedicated functioning of social institutions;
- Life in an built-up setting;
- Birth control and family planning;
- Social mobility;
- Marital disruption and divorce;
- disregard and improper care for the elderly;
- ceremonial education for children; and
- Governmental manipulate on family activities.