Why is Grandparents’ Day celebrated on July 26?

At the Brazil is at Portugalthe day July 26 is the date chosen to honor very special people: it is the Grandparents Day🇧🇷 Unlike Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, which are always on Sundays, Grandparents’ Day has this fixed date, and each year it falls on a day of the week.

This commemorative date has religious origins. The 26th of July is Saint Anne’s Day it’s from Saint joaquim🇧🇷 In Catholic tradition they are the parents of Mariaand therefore the grandparents of Jesus🇧🇷 That’s why this is the date chosen to celebrate all grandfathers and grandmothers.

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Before that, São Joaquim was honored in March, and later in August. It was only during the papacy of Paul VIbetween 1963 and 1978, that July 26 became the day of the two saints.

The Story of Sant’Ana and Saint Joaquim

Catholic tradition tells that Ana and Joaquim were married. They dreamed of having a son or a daughter, but for twenty years they were unsuccessful – both would be barren.

At an advanced age, Joachim fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, hoping that God would help him to have a child. Ana believed that her husband had died, and prayed fervently, asking for Joaquim’s life and to have a baby. Angels then appeared to the two, assuring them that they would indeed have a daughter.

Then Anna became pregnant, and Mary was born to her, and Jesus was born to Mary. Therefore, today, Sant’Ana is considered the patroness of grandmothers. She is also the patroness of education, for having educated Mary and influenced the education of Jesus. São Joaquim is the patron saint of Grandfathers.