The Names We Call Our Grandma
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Her Title Is Bestowed on Her by Family Members
Grandma, granny, nana, or mimi; there are many names that can be applied to the family matriarch. Sometimes the title is chosen because of a language or cultural norm, while at other times, it is a selection made by a grandchild who is not yet able to voice the traditional title and so shortens the name.
The name selected for a grandma is a personal choice within each family and one that may even be decided by the youngest members of the family. G'ma or gamma are often the misspoken terms gifted to this female role model. There are many names that we can bestow upon our grandmother and occasionally she herself may be the one to dictate what she wishes to be called. Grandmas aren't the typical grey-haired spectacle-wearing ladies depicted from yesteryear. She may be knitting sweaters, or she could be off-traveling the world. Most of these senior ladies have gathered a great deal of patience throughout the years. As she no longer has her own family to care for she often has an abundance of time and energy to share with her grandchildren as they come along. Generally spoken of with warm thoughts and gifted with hugs, she can be so very many things to the ones that she loves. Shortened Name Versions are Common
Young children often shorten words to speak them more easily, so it is logical the the term grandmother has many versions of mispronunciations.
Grandma Grandmom Granny Mimi Memaw Mawmaw Gams Grams Gammy or Gami Gma Mammy Grammi Gamma Nanna A grandmother is an important person in a child's life. She is often given the role of a secondary caregiver to grandchildren. A figure of trust and security much like the mother is, but grandma's attitude often comes with a little more leeway to forgive the small indiscretions of childhood. She has the opportunity to offer unconditional love. Advertisement by eBay:
Traditional vs. Non-Traditional Family Units
A grandmother is the mother of your parent. She is an elder mother. Each child has both a mother and a father and in that same family unit they also generally have at least one set of grandparents. They are classed as grandmother and grandfather.
Generally, a person would have two sets of grandparents, one on the side of the mother and the second on the side of the father. Today that norm is not always there as nontraditional family units have become more acceptable in our society. We may instead have multiple sets of grandparents. Divorce, single parenting, and remarriage can add numerous combinations to this scenario. A single-parent family may have only one set of grandparents, while a remarriage could introduce one or two additional sets of grandparents into the family. For a child, grandparents are generally a special bonus and one that comes with an abundance of additional love and attention. Advertisement by eBay:
Country and Culture Have a Strong Influence
Each country and culture has its own terms for the word grandmother, but because we are now such a closely connected global community, language barriers have fallen away.
No longer heard in just the country where a family originates from, our linguistic twists can be found in any home throughout the world. As immigration moved families from one part of the world to another, we carried with us our family language and traditions. It is why you may hear an elderly woman referred to by one of the following names. African: Bibi / Ouma Armenian: Tatik Asian: Nai Nai Cambodia: Yeah / Yiey Croatia: Baka Filipino: Lola Flemish: Bomma / Bommi / Oma French: Grandmere / Meme / Mamie / Memere German: Oma Greek: Yaya Hawaiian: Tutu Hebrew: Bubbe / Safta / Savta Iceland: Amma Indonesian: Nenek Irish: Seanmathair / Maimeo / Morai Italian: Nonna Japan: Obaasan / Bassan / Baa Baa / Sobo / Soba Korean: Halmoni / Halmi Polish: Babusia / Babcia Portuguese: Avo / Vovo Russian: Babushka / Baba Romanian: Bunica Spanish: Abuela / Lita / Abuelita Ukrainian: Baba Yiddish: Bubbe / Bobeshi / bubeh / Bubbie Cultural traditions are carried along to their new country and it is these which are lovingly passed on from elderly relatives to younger family members. Senior families tend to have a wealth of knowledge to share and they are only too happy to pass this information along. Grandmothers are often best known for the classic heritage foods they serve. Her recipes are passed down through the family and it is these traditional dishes and desserts that have grandchildren eagerly looking forward to her meals. Heritage has everything to do with it. Grandparents are very special individuals indeed. Advertisement by eBay:
Special Holidays to Celebrate
There are more than a few holidays that are ideal times to recognize the special bond we have with family and our senior members. These occasions can be very special. Valentine's Day, Easter, Christmas, and birthdays are standard holidays ideal for including grandma into and are occasions on which she should certainly not be forgotten on.
When it comes to super special dates to mark on the calendar Mother's Day is traditional for honouring the matriarch of the family, and this should include not only mom but also grandmom. These women are the female role models who have nurtured and guided the family through good times and bad. This is their day. There are also some dates specifically designated to celebrate a grandmother's unique status within the family. National Grandparents Day is celebrated in many countries around the world including in both the U.S. and Canada. In the United States, National Grandparent's Day falls on the first Sunday after Labor Day. In Canada, it is celebrated on the second Sunday in September. Many countries celebrate National Grandmother's Day. France: It falls on the 1st Sunday in March Germany: It falls on the 2nd Sunday in October Poland: It falls on January 21 I am not sure if Gorgeous Grandma Day is a Nationally recognized holiday, but it is one celebrated in many countries, including Canada and the United States. Falling on July 23 each year, it is a day to celebrate how truly special grandmom is, so be prepared to shower yours with lots of love and attention. This is your chance to let her know how beautiful she truly is. |
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