Held off a couple days to see if my mind would change on this, or maybe become less intense as to how I feel about this one, ...nope... just as strongly opposed to this special day as I was feeling a couple days ago ...Suffice it to say that our wedding anniversary is on June 23rd, we just celebrated 33 years. I do not want the International Widow's Day as a reminder on a day I am treasuring our wedding and time together, and I would hate the thought of going from remembering the love we had to remembering the loss, and of becoming a widow and somehow celebrating that status. Oh and are they not including the widower's? If this is about "to give special recognition to them", then I believe the widower's should also be included,.... now if this is about how much the widows have already lost and often the precarious financial situation that many widows find themselves in, after the loss of their spouse, then in that case I could see them focusing on the widows as they do have a much more difficult life in about every culture and region.
I will not be a fan of this remembrance, either now & especially if my husband passes before I do, and I will not be sharing with him, this new day of remembrance. I will continue to do as you each are already saying to give of my friendship and help when the need is there and extra hugs and support on those special dates that will continue to be difficult days until they day they pass from this world of ours.
This seems likely to have been a date thought up by card makers and marketing executives in order to create another way to bring in revenue, more than it was a way to encourage people to go and give service to help and uplift this group of people who are likely struggling in one way or another. That kind of service can be done everyday, any day, without any fan fare or special official day of remembrance.
Glad to see I am not the only one who does not get this day of remembrance. Yes, the word "Weird" applies here. Pam
There seems to be a day for everything these days. It has all got far too commercialized.
I totally agree with graceandham. I think it's a nice gesture, but falls short of what widows and widowers really need.
Maybe it should be named Kindness to Widows day, with the idea being to do something nice for someone without pointing out their status! Widows don't need a day at a randomly assigned month, they need respect, care, consideration, inclusion, friendship.