Enjoying every year on January 1, Global Family Day starts the new year with a positive message of unity to the world. Believe it or not, we are all one! (unite) Cultures and religions across the world may be different but, the truth is that all of mankind is a large family that can survive and succeed only if we are united. And this is a goal that can be achieved by spreading the message of peace and unity. This creates peace in the world.
What is a Global Family?
Global family refers to the concept of a Global village where different parts of the world are seen as one community in unity.
Why do we celebrate Global Family Day?
It’s an international day celebrated to promote world peace on 1st January.
How do we celebrate Global Family Day?
Events are often conducted by organizations and the importance of a United world is emphasized.
HISTORY OF GLOBAL FAMILY DAY
Global Family Day is also known as World Peace Day, is celebrated every year to promote the concept of harmony and unity in the world. It emphasizes the idea of the world as a global village in which we are all family, regardless of citizenship, borders, race, etc.
It was started in 1997 when the United National General Assembly launched the International Decade for the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World, As of the first day of the new millennium. Other efforts to promote it included books such as “One Day in Peace – January 1, 2000”. This book revolved around the concept of a day in the future where there is only peace and no more war.
However, this was just the beginning of a new peaceful world in 1999, all United national member states received an invitation to formally dedicate the first day of that particular year to develop strategies towards peacebuilding. Seeing the positive impact of the day, Global Family Day was declared an annual event by the U.N. in 2001.
Global Family Day Timeline
117–138 A.D.Roman Times Emperor Hadrian introduces the term‘PEACE’
3rd CenturyAdvocating for Peace
“Religions and philosophies promote the concept of peace”.
1945Effects of World War II
“The United Nations is founded to ensure wars between countries don’t happen so easily again.”
The 1960sA New Concept
“Johan Galtung speaks of ‘positive peace’, a concept that encourages a modification in social attitude towards accepting peace”.
3 Reasons to celebrate “GLOBAL FAMILY DAY”
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Now is a great time to make family resolutions
Last night, as I was watching the fireworks on TV, thousands of people had gathered near the London Eye to welcome in the New Year with their loved ones. Traditionally, 1st January is a time when people make New Year’s resolutions; it is a time of looking forward to new beginnings and generally letting go of past bad and sad moments. People will cut out chocolate, alcohol or make a new rule for fitness and health (all with good, but not always lasting, intentions).
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You learn the most from your family
As I was setting my intentions for 2016, I remembered something my dad always says. He says that the family unit is like a university. It is the one place where you learn about leadership, get mutual support and prepare for adulthood, good and bad. It is like a training ground for life.
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Appreciate your family – it is the only one you have
It is a day for promoting peace, by celebrating and acknowledging my family. Global Family Day recognizes that we are all part of a global family that is the human race. I believe that if we start with our own families, this is the first step to living in harmony as a global family.
Today, we will celebrate by sharing food, talking, and making a New Year’s Resolution, to do something peaceful for ourselves and for the planet. Personally, for 2016 I will take some time out for rest and relaxation (which I now recognize I don’t do enough of), and for the planet, I will send out absent healing and positive thoughts for those that are less fortunate than myself.)
