April 10 is Siblings Day

Today, April 10, 2016, is Siblings Day.

It is a day mainly celebrated in the United States, with some countries informally recognising the day.

In fact, Siblings Day was introduced into the official Congressional Record of the United States Congress on September 26, 2005.

The day was first established by Claudia Evart.

This was after she lost both of her siblings early in life. She chose April 10, as the day of celebration and recognition for brothers and sisters, as it was the birthday of her late sister, Lisette.

In the US, the Siblings Day Foundation was first incorporated in 1997 and achieved non-profit status in 1999.

Singaporeans with siblings have fallen in numbers

In Singapore, more Singaporeans are growing up without siblings as more women are having fewer children throughout their child-bearing lifetimes.

In 2014, 21.6 percent of ever-married female citizens or permanent residents aged between 40 and 49 have just one child.

This is close to double the 11.9 per cent in 1994, said the Population Trends 2015 report released by the Department of Statistics.

Ever-married women refers to those currently married, divorced or widowed. Those in the 40-to-49 age group are likely to have completed their child-bearing.

What is a sibling?

A sibling is one of two or more individuals having one or both parents in common.

A male sibling is called a brother, and a female sibling is called a sister.

In most societies throughout the world, siblings usually grow up together, facilitating the development of strong emotional bonds such as love, hostility or thoughtfulness.

The emotional bond between siblings is often complicated and is influenced by factors such as parental treatment, birth order, personality, and personal experiences outside the family.

Siblings Day can be celebrated by sending a card or gift or making a dinner invitation to your siblings.

Or you can always make it special in your own way.

Go on, do something memorable for your sibling today.

 

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- Belmont Lay