Perhaps, never before has the International Children's Day been so significant in China.

After the earthquake that devastated the country's southwest on May 12, the deceased children were commemorated on Sunday -- their own holiday, while millions of others, in the quake zone or outside, seemed to have grown up overnight, learning to be strong and caring.

Standing on a pile of rubble that was the Xinjian Primary School some 20 days ago, Yi Jianguo touches gently a photo of his daughter. "She has always longed to celebrate the children's day," he said, tears welling up his eyes.

"Although she is gone, I remember her words and must make up for her," added the man.

There were 60 students in the girl's class. Only five survived the quake, but not the girl.

Yi was among the 500 parents who planned to celebrate the last children's day for their dead offspring together. They pooled their money to buy each child a large photo frame so as to have them "witness how their parents celebrate together with them."

Behind Yi, a young mother was searching for belongings of her child while mumbling on about something. Two other adults placed their children's favorite fruit at the debris, weeping away.

Holiday wishes

In the quake that ripped through the country's southwest, nearly 70,000 people had been confirmed dead. It is unknown how many were children like Yi's daughter, but more than 7,000 schools collapsed in the disaster.

The dead can no longer make wishes, while the surviving children still have their dreams.

In the resettlement zone of the Leigu Township at Beichuan, four children were playing with a basketball they found in the debris.

"When can we return to school?" asked Chen Hao of the Leigu Primary School.

"In the past we longed for a day off on the children's day. But this time, we hope that class could resume on June 1," the boy said, his head bowing.

For 13-year-old Wang Zhen from the Mianzhu Middle School, his holiday wish was to see his mom again.

The boy had became introverted and quiet after the quake killed his mother. "She was always nagging and sometimes beat me. But I know what she did was all for me."

When Zhou Lin, his psychological doctor, told him "you can pretend that I were your mom and give me a hug," Wang threw himself into her arms, crying for as long as six minutes.

Wu Kunzhi and Yin Jing were among the children sent to other provinces, regions and municipalities to celebrate the holiday. From Shifang City, they went to Beijing to watch the flag-raising ceremony at Tian'anmen Square.

"How I wish that I could see the national flag fluttering on my re-built homeland," Wu said. "I will put on my red scarf (a symbol for Young Pioneers) and salute."

A lesson of love

To children outside the quake zone, Sunday maybe their first children's day when, rather than receiving gifts, the kids and teenagers across China were brainstorming to help their peers affected by the disaster to celebrate the holiday.

At a donation spot in Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, five-year-old Liu Yang was counting the coins from his piggy bank, something which was normally off-limits. He then spent five minutes inserting about 300 coins into the donation box.

Xie Chuang, a 10-year-old in Hunan Province, bought 50 carnations to send to a local hospital where several children from the quake zone were receiving medical treatment. "I watched TV and know they didn't cry. But their wounds must hurt. I just want to make them happy."

In Yushan County, Jiangxi Province, 11-year-old Li Jing cut her waist-long hair that had taken her five years to grow. She sold it for five yuan. "Dad is a migrant worker and my mom is working in the field. My family is not rich. But I do want to do something for my ill-fated peers," said the shy girl.

Students from Yuanqing Middle School in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, bought 30 boxes of mosquito-repellent incense and 1,000 bottles of essential balm. As it was getting warmer they hoped the gift could help children in Sichuan sleep well at night.

Overseas Chinese children reach out from afar

In New York, Nancy Sing Bock, headmaster of the No. 51 public school, handed a letter from student Li Ruishi to the Chinese Consulate. "Li is only six years old and I am proud of him," she said. Under the boy's proposal, his 300 schoolmates organized a charity sale that raised 550 U.S. dollars. The money was entrusted the consulate to give to the children affected by the quake.

Similar donations from children were reported from other countries, such as Switzerland and Spain.

"Chinese children seemed to have grown up overnight," said Chen Tongming, the Ningxia Academy of Social Sciences vice head.

"Children are a group most susceptible to social influences," he said. "When they saw the adults donating for the quake affected, they learnt the affection and are also eager to help. To be caring is a sign of maturation."

Pains soothed by gratitude

Love across China was felt by bereaved or injured children in the quake zone, most of whom got presents on their own holiday.

Zhang Hong, 11, was busy counting the gifts she received in Beichuan -- a teddy bear, books and pens. Along with her parents and five-year-old brother, the family trekked for a whole day after the earthquake.

"I have never walked for so long," she said. "But I see so many people caring for us, I know I should be stronger and more brave."

"Can you help me buy 100 blank cards," Liu Tao asked the nurse while lying in a hospital bed. "I want to write to whoever helped me in the past fortnight. Do you think 100 would be enough?" he asked.

Yong Qing from the Qiang ethnic minority was practicing with her classmates for a chorus.

"Last year we had a party for the children's day and each class had a program," she recalled, her arms marked with bruises and scars that resulted when she escaped the quake.

"This year, maybe the party couldn't be as grand, but we still prepared a program," said the 11-year-old. This time, they wanted to sing the song "Grateful Heart."

(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2008)