Malta is to start celebrating a Grandparents Day, on the second Sunday in October, in recognition of their role in the family.

Parliament yesterday unanimously approved a motion moved by Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly Franco Mercieca on a proposal by the Fondazzjoni Nanniet Malta, whose members were present in the House for the occasion.

He said the day would recognise the continued role of grandparents in today’s family structure, especially as there was such a strong bond between grandparents and grandchildren.

It was important to pay tribute to those who built today’s families and to strengthen their participation in society, he said.

Grandparents’ Day will recognise their role in the family structure

Mario Galea (PN) agreed that grandparents’ work should be acknowledged and that they should be shown gratitude in this way.

He pointed out that the oldest childcare centre in existence in the country, which offered excellent care for free, had always been the grandmother’s house, where pampering, good food and love were guaranteed.

There was something special about the memories associated with going to one’s grandparents, which was a shared experience of many.

Somehow, children always ate everything at their grandmother’s house because it seemed to taste better.

Mr Galea also paid tribute to the mothers and grandparents of the current MPs and those relatives who took care of the elderly.

Senior citizens were the link between yesterday and today and represented the nation’s values, he said.