site.btaInternational Children's Day Marked on June 1 in 1950

International Children’s Day is celebrated on June 1. The origin of the holiday dates back to 1925, when the World Conference for the Well-being of Children was convened in Geneva, Switzerland. After the conference, governments around the world designated different dates, in accordance with their traditions and cultures, on which to celebrate Children’s Day.

In Bulgaria, the day has been celebrated since 1927, on May 8, under the patronage of Princess Eudoxia following a decree by Tsar Boris III. According to the document, Children’s Day was to be celebrated on the second Sunday after Easter. In 1927, the date was May 8. When Boris married Queen Giovanna, she became the holiday’s patron, and after the birth of their child – Maria-Louisa of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha – special stamps were issued for Children’s Day featuring the image of the princess.

The date June 1, which is observed by the former Soviet countries and some other states as International Day for the Protection of Children, was adopted after a congress of the Women’s International Democratic Federation held in Moscow in 1949. After the political changes in Eastern Europe in 1989, the holiday date remained unchanged and continues to be observed on June 1 to this day.

Following is an excerpt of BTA's Home News Bulletin:

Sofia, June 1, 1950 /BTA/ International Children’s Day was celebrated today in the most festive manner across the country. (…) In the capital, tens of thousands of children celebrated International Children’s Day. Throughout the day, hundreds of children in the neighborhoods—in children’s homes, on playgrounds, on stages, and in parks—celebrated their happy childhood. More than 4,300 children from the Fifth District of Sofia took part in the celebrations. In every neighborhood, in children’s homes, daycares, weekly kindergartens, nurseries, schools, and playgrounds throughout the district, children’s festivities and ceremonial gatherings were held.

At the “Geo Milev” daycare center in the Slatina district, the local women’s association organized a party for workers’ children. After beautiful children’s songs and games, the women-mothers distributed many gifts to the children. At the children’s home at the “Slavyanka” factory, a children’s celebration took place in the afternoon under the slogan “Fight for Peace.” The children cheerfully sang their beautiful songs and raised the slogan “We want peace.” At the formal children’s gathering in the “V. E. Aprilov” primary school, more than 800 children were in attendance.