Father’s Day is coming up. Though one does not need a specific date to celebrate the special man who is a parent, friend and guide, both children and dads look forward to Father’s Day on June 20. With covid-linked restrictions being gradually eased, may be, you can go and spend the day with your dad if he is living in a different place. If you’re not able to share a meal or watch a film together, still you can celebrate. You can send him a surprise Father’s Day gift or his favourite food. Do you know how and when the tradition of celebrating Father’s Day started?
The third Sunday of June is celebrated as Father’s Day in most parts of the world. Father’s Day is a celebration of fathers, honouring fatherhood, paternal bonds and the role fathers play in society. This day was first proposed in 1909 to complement Mother’s Day celebrations.
On this day children acknowledge and appreciate their fathers and father figures, who play an important role in their lives, be it emotionally, mentally or even financially. On this day children understand the importance of the role of a father in one’s life. This day acknowledges the contribution of fathers to their own families and society at large. Children buy or make presents for their father or father-like figure, write and draw cards, spend the day engaging in activities that can be enjoyed with one’s father, be it hiking, fishing or just sitting around watching some television. In India especially, most kids have a closer bond with their mothers, so this day definitely helps forge a closer relation with one’s dad.
While India follows the US, and celebrates Father’s Day on the third Sunday of June every year, in other countries including Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Father’s Day is celebrated on March 19. And even though this is a Western tradition started in the United States of America, it has gained a lot of prominence in India in the past many years.
Traditions of Father’s Day
The date for Father’s Day changes from year-to-year. In most countries, Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. The celebrations recognize the unique role a father or a father figure plays in our lives. Traditionally, countries such as Spain and Portugal, celebrate Father’s Day on March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph. In Taiwan, Father’s Day is on August 8. In Thailand, December 5, the birthday of former King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is marked as Father’s Day.
How did Father’s Day start?
According to the almanac.com, the history of Father’s Day isn’t a happy one. It was first marked after a horrible mining accident in the United States. On July 5, 1908, hundreds of men died in a mining mishap at Fairmont in West Virginia. Grace Golden Clayton, the daughter of a dedicated reverend, suggested a Sunday service in memory of all the men who died in the accident.
A few years later another woman, Sonora Smart Dodd, again started observing Father’s Day in honour of her father, a Civil War veteran who brought up six children as a single parent.
Observing Father’s Day did not gain popularity in the US until several decades later when President Richard Nixon signed a declaration in 1972, making it an annual celebration on the third Sunday of June.
Father’s Day started in the United States (US), however, it has gained a lot of prominence in India in the last few years.
Father’s Day was first proposed by Sonora Smart Dodd in the USA. She and her five siblings were raised by her dad, who was a civil war veteran William Jackson Smart.
Looking at her dad’s dedication and support towards the family, she wanted to establish an official equivalent to Mother’s Day for male parents. Sonora wanted Father’s Day celebrations to be held on 5 June, which was her dad’s birthday, but due to the time constraints of the Church, the day was finally celebrated on the third Sunday of June.
The first Father’s Day was celebrated on 19 June, 1910. Later, on 1 May, 1972, the then-President of the US Richard Nixon declared Father’s Day as a national holiday. Therefore, the first official Father’s Day celebration in the US was on 18 June, 1972.
Does every country observe Father’s Day on same day?
No, not all countries observe the day on the same date. While Father’s Day is celebrated in India, US and few other countries on the third Sunday of June (20 June) other countries including Portugal, Spain, Croatia and Italy observed Father’s Day on 19 March.
In Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, Father’s Day is celebrated in the month of September.
This special day signifies the pivotal role that fathers play in their children’s lives; be it emotionally, mentally or even financially. So, to make their fathers feel special, children on this day shower them with gifts, heart-warming cards and special dinners.
Many try to spend more time than usual with their fathers. Others who are away from home call their father or visit him.
Facts about Father’s Day
– The idea of Father’s Day was first proposed by Sonora Smart Dodd of the United States whose father, William Jackson Smart, was an American Civil War veteran.
– He raised her and her five siblings after her mother died. Thus, Sonora Dodd became an admirer and the idea of Fathers’ Day was proposed.
– The first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in America.
– Later in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honouring fathers and declared the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day.
– Six years later in 1972, the day was made a permanent national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed it into law.
– In some countries, Father’s day is celebrated on June 19 but in most of the countries like the United States, Greece, India, France, Japan, Canada and China, this day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June.
– Just like mothers, fathers also play a very important part. Hence, this Father’s Day, thank your father for being your dad and helping you achieve the best in life.