Back in 2017, I wrote a column about July 26 being celebrated as Aunts and Uncles Day. Since then there seems to have been a decline in the attention paid to this specific day and that is a shame. It is, after all, observed in both Canada and the United States, and perhaps worldwide.
To remind nieces and nephews about the importance of this celebration, I am reprising that column that appeared in July 2017.
No one seems to know why, by whom or when, but it appears that July 26 has been declared “Aunts and Uncles Day” — a day to celebrate all that is wonderful about the brothers and sisters of our parents.
If there had been such an occasion several decades ago, the celebration in our family alone would have been far-reaching and a bit overwhelming, for both of my parents had many sisters and brothers, providing us with a good variety of aunts and uncles. In addition, both provided a few great aunts and uncles to add to the frivolity. Housemate’s parents had a lesser number of siblings each, but still enough to provide a party of note.
Sadly, I have no aunts or uncles still living, thus my celebration will have to be of a posthumous nature.
Despite the lack of authentication of how this aunt and uncle day began, there are reasons provided for why aunts and uncles deserve to be honoured. (I hope our nephews and nieces are paying attention.)
Information provided in relation to this day suggests aunts and uncles are regarded as the backup babysitters for nieces and nephews, playing a major role in assisting when grandmas and grandpas or regular babysitters are unavailable.
On a personal note, I recall being babysat by an aunt who had a son just a year or two older. She tried to ensure we at least talked to each other and wanted to play games with us, but we just stared at each other — until we decided chasing the chickens would be a bonding experience. Auntie was not amused, nor was uncle when he came in from the field. Oops.
The information says that uncles especially are usually known to be the characters at family gatherings. I wonder if the uncle who swatted flies at our wedding would fit the “character” category? No doubt the uncle who asked for an axe to cut into the pie crust at a family event would qualify. He was shushed but his voice carried throughout the hall and to the ears of the pie baker. Another oops.
Aunts and uncles are considered the best gift givers, providing items that parents would never buy. I still have the xylophone one aunt gave me for Christmas. I played many songs on it, but mostly Twinkle Twinkle Little Star until the parents suggested I read the books an adopted uncle had provided. Another uncle, thinking I was my older sister, gave me two silver dollars which I have in a box someplace. He never did remember my name, simply calling me “the other one.”
Supposedly, aunts and uncles are expected to listen to secrets, and to offer counsel and advice. An aunt who could no longer drive herself gave considerable advice on how I should be driving when she was my passenger, but told the parents I was a good driver. What a relief.
Then there was the uncle who counselled my aunt that it was time to “take the slop away from the pigs” in reference to me being the last one still eating at the table. He grinned when he said it and I took it in good humour. That was the same uncle who asked a cousin of mine if she knew she had mould on her eyelids. She was not amused, nor was our aunt.
The promoters of Aunts and Uncles Day suggest nieces and nephews should honour their aunts and uncles by sending bouquets of flowers, boxes of chocolates, or even gift cards for a popular restaurant.
I will clear a spot on the table right now in anticipation of the flowers and chocolates coming our way from our nephews and nieces.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
