HISTORY OF NATIONAL FAMILY DAY

The family unit is an indispensable part of human society. At its core, the family is composed of biological relatives like parents, siblings, grandparents, and cousins, as well as spouses, children, and in-laws. The social relationships, expectations, and dynamics between these relatives vary by time and place. Today, Americans are getting married later than ever, at around 28.

The nuclear family unit — parents and children — typically makes up most Western households. In other cultures, extended families share households, and adult children are expected to care for their elderly parents and relatives.

Throughout history, the definition of family has evolved to include nontraditional families, extended clans, and even tightly-knit friend groups. For those without close ties to their blood relatives, “chosen family” provides much-needed love and support.

The scientific study of the family unit began in the late 19th century and crystallized as a subfield of sociology in the 1960s. Since then, social scientists have paid special attention to the family’s role in shaping individual behavior and how place and culture affect family structures. Industrialization, globalization, and the development of cheap and fast international transportation have led to rapid changes in relations between families.

According to psychologists, family ties are critical for healthy development. Research shows that the quality of familial relationships has significant effects on well-being. Strong family ties support us under stress, help us process trauma, and boost our self-esteem.

Because family is such an important structure for people around the world, it certainly makes sense to devote a day to appreciating and engaging with the important people in our lives.

BY THE NUMBERS

32% – the percentage of single parents who account for family households with children under the age of 18.

19.2 million – the number of families living in the U.K. in 2019.

⅔ – the fraction of families in the U.K represented by married or civil partner couples.

2 out of 3 – the number of adolescents aged 12–17 who live with both parents.

7% – the percentage of children who lived at their grandparents’ homes in 2017.

63% – the percentage of parents of teens who feel they can talk about meaningful things with their children.

5 FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT FAMILY

1. I Love Lucy almost didn’t happen

   Network executives hesitated to cast Lucille Ball’s real-life husband Desi Arnaz but, at Ball’s insistence, Lucy and Ricky became the first interracial couple on television and spawned an American classic.

2. The high-tech Addams Family

   Believe it or not, the first PC on television appeared on The Addams Family in the 1960s.

3. Stone age suburbia

   Inspired by The Honeymooners’ cheeky family dynamics, The Flintstones debuted in 1960 as the first animated show on prime time.

4. “You rang?” was an ad-lib

   Lurch the butler was written as mute in the original The Addams Family sitcom, but Ted Cassidy’s ad-libbed “You rang?” became an iconic line.

5. The Simpsons drew from real life

   The characters on The Simpsons are inspired by and named after Matt Groening’s own family members.

    

NATIONAL FAMILY DAY DATES