In Germany, during the Cold War, Children's Day (Kindertag) was handled quite differently in West Germany and East Germany. While East Germany (GDR) celebrated International Children's Day (Internationaler Kindertag) on June 1, West Germany (FRG) celebrated Universal Children's Day (Weltkindertag) on September 20.
The customs of Children's Day were also significantly different in West and East Germany. In East Germany, the holiday was introduced in 1950, and was from then held on a yearly basis for the children. On this day of the year, children would typically be congratulated and would receive presents from their parents and did special activities in school, such as field trips and the like.
In West Germany, Children's Day Universal Children's Day laid his momentum not on games and presents, but more on political efforts to strengthen children's rights.
After the reunification of East and West Germany occurred in 1990, Universal Children's Day has become official for whole Germany. This, however, was not accepted by large parts of the East German population. Most parents still celebrate Children's Day on the former date of June 1, and public events pertaining to Children's Day take place on September 20.