1 comment.‘Grandparents Day’ established during special session in Parliament
 Email item
|  Print item
|
|
This morning the Speaker of the House, Dr Anglu Farrugia welcomed for the first time, grandparents and grandchildren to Parliament for a special session, with members of Nanniet Malta.
Dr Farrugia spoke about the vital role of elders in Maltese society in today’s fast life saying that the elderly, particularly grandparents, are a natural support of the workforce of the country and it is therefore appropriate that the grandparents are recognised.
He greeted those present including President Emeritus Edward Fenech Adami, Profs Rizzo Naudi and the Minister of Foreign Affairs George Vella, who are all grandparents.
The Speaker also paid tribute to the grandfather of humanity, who left the world a few days ago, Nelson Mandela who struggled for change in South Africa.
Nanniet Malta said that a motion proposing Parliament to establish and dedicate the second Sunday of October as “Grandparents Day” was passed by an unanimous vote in Parliament during the session dedicated to Grandparents and Grandchildren……….”a great appreciation and recognition and a historical ‘Day’ for Grandparents in Malta.”
Members of the Gozo Grandparents Branch celebrated this morning’s successful Parliamentary session, with refreshments in the President’s Kitchen Garden.
Grandparents Day in Malta was created on the 23rd of September 2013, by Philip M Chircop after obtaining, on this day, the Distinguished Patronage of HE Dr George Abela, President of Malta.
The ‘Day’ is being established for the first time in Malta by “Nanniet (Grandparents) Malta,” an NGO founded by Philip Chircop, “with the aim to instil in our siblings respect for our forefathers and to encourage them to look up to their Grandparents not only on this day, but throughout their lives.”
‘Jum in-Nanniet’ (Grandparents Day) was celebrated for the first time this year, on Sunday, the 20th of October, when the Church celebrated Missions Sunday, also highlighting Grandparents’ Mission in the Maltese Family Life, and will continue to be celebrated on the second Sunday of October, thereafter.
The Gozo Branch of Nanniet Malta was inaugurated in November, with a Thanksgiving Mass at Sannat Parish Church.
For more information please email on Nanniet.malta@gmail.com.
It was really an unforgettable event, to be present in the Parliament for such an important issue. It was a historical day. We, the ‘nanniet’ of Malta and Gozo made History on the 17th of December 2013. God bless all nanniet… it was great as well to have a light lunch at the President’s Kitchen…