CLEVELAND — Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are just around the corner, but this weekend parents worldwide are joining hands with their little ones to celebrate Día del Niño, also known as Children’s Day.

What You Need To Know

  • Many countries worldwide have national holidays to celebrate their children, with varying dates and traditions

  • Children’s Day is celebrated on April 30 in Mexico and now many parts of the United States as cultural traditions travel across the country

  • Cleveland Play House, the Mexican Committee of Cleveland and other community groups are inviting community members to join them in recognizing their youth the weekend before the holiday

Marcela Rodriguez-Gonzalez was born in Mexico City, where she lived until 2015, when she moved to the United States. Growing up, April 30 was always a special day in her household, she said.

Now, she’s helping bring the tradition across borders to Ohio as the director of community development at Cleveland Play House.

“I’m expecting my first baby. Now more than ever, it's so important for me to create awareness of why this day actually exists,” she said.

As Children’s Day celebrations are taking place across the globe this weekend, Rodriguez-Gonzalez said its important to remember the holiday’s roots.

Seeking to protect children from exploitation, the League of Nations adopted the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child at a 1924 convention. 

“Children's Day in Mexico was proclaimed in 1924 as well by our former president, Álvaro Obregón. It wasn't in 1954, the United Nations got together and decided it has to be a worldwide Children’s Day,” Rodriguez-Gonzalez said.

Still, she isn’t the only one bringing the day’s true meaning to the party.

Rey Esparza and Patty Esparza are the cofounders of the Mexican Committee of Cleveland, which is inviting hundreds of Ohioans to a day filled with music, food, performances and face painting.

"It’s a tradition we wanted to bring here to Cleveland as part of our cultural heritage from Mexico,” Rey Esparza said.

The committee said it is working alongside several community partners and is encouraging all people to participate in its annual tradition, regardless of age.

“This is also just a special day for kids, to make him feel special,” Rey Esparza said. “I mean, we say they are the heart, the enthusiasm in our homes… it's a time to for everyone to enjoy, even as adults, we have a kid inside.”

Rodriguez-Gonzales said spreading awareness is critical in caring for the world’s most vulnerable population, which will soon include her own child.

“As a new parent, I want to make sure that I have the tools to support my child and that I'm always learning in ways I can not only advocate for my own baby, but any other kids I encounter,” she said.

Here are some more photos from Saturday: