Father’s Day: You know that there is no person out there who is greater than your Dad!. So why not celebrate all of the things that he’s done for you and continues to do for you? Well, such a day exists, it’s called Father’s Day and it’ll be celebrated on June 21 this year. You will probably shower your dad with cards, presents, and maybe even a box of chocolates on this special day. Well, if you are interested in knowing more about this revered global holiday, read on!
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The origins of Father’s Day
“Every great global holiday honoring someone has its origins in either some sort of event or festival/celebration. So, how did Father’s Day start?”
Well, here’s the answer to your question. The first official Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 2010. It was started by a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd who wanted to establish an official day of recognition for the amazing role that Dads play in raising kids. The decision was personal for her. Her mother had died at birth and she was singlehandedly raised by her Dad. She wanted to express her gratitude to him and she thought that the perfect way to do this would be with an official holiday.
However, to be fair, she was not the first person who officially designated a special day to honor Dad’s. This occurred in 1908 when a church in West Virginia celebrated the official role that Dads have. This celebration had another purpose though, it was to honor the 362 (male) miners who had lost their lives in 1907 in the Fairmont Coal Company mines because of an explosion. The mine was in Monongah county. Father’s Day wasn’t to become an officially celebrated holiday in America until 1972 which is when President Nixon signed its official existence into order.
Father’s Day in America in contemporary times
Though a nationally recognized holiday, It is not a public holiday. Many establishments don’t observe it for this reason and for the reason that it’s not an official holiday. Many people express gratitude towards their Dads by showering them with gifts. While the nature of the gifts given has changed, the desire to do so has not. Some of the more popular gifts people give their Dads include:
- Thermoses and mugs
- Sweat pants
- Glasses
- Crockpots
- Knife sharpeners
- Coffee decanters
How do people around the world celebrate Father’s day?
Since Fathers Day is recognized worldwide, it’s time to describe how people in other countries celebrate this special day for their Dads. you may not know this interesting fact, but people in most other countries around the world celebrate Father’s Day in conjunction with International Men’s Day. International Men’s Day is a little different because it honors the contributions that child-less men have made to society.
How the Australians celebrate Father’s Day
The Australian state of Victoria is perhaps the most involved in this iconic day. There the YMCAs in 32 municipalities give Dads who have done an outstanding job of raising their kids a Local Community Father of the Year award.
Germans love Father’s Day
Indeed, the Germans love Father’s Day, but they give it a different name. It’s known as Men’s Day and is celebrated 40 days after Easter on Ascension Day. Men go hiking and enjoy lots of beer, pretzels, and other traditional German foods.
Father’s Day is special
Father’s Day is indeed special. It’s that one day out of the year where you can give your Dad a card, a party, a gift, or simply some chocolates and a hug to show your appreciation for everything that he’s done for you!
