Fathers. Father's Day, a Hallmark Occasion.
Fathers Day filled with Love
Dear Old Dad
Well we have Mother's Day, so why not Father's Day? It took a long time to get congress to accept the concept of Mothers Day. Europe already had a long established celebration called Mothering Sunday attached to the Christian calender, so why not a special day for Dads. It wasn't until 1908 that the concept was brought to light in West Virginia and Spokane Washington just a little while later. The whole idea was thought of as a commercial venture and became the object of ridicule.
In 1930 a group of business men banded together to promote Father's Day as a celebration of Fatherhood on the third Sunday in June. The idea was to boost trade at a time of year when commerce was flat. It is only on that day in the USA as nations around the World chose different days. The Catholic Church celebrates St Joseph's day as the patron saint of Fathers earlier in the year, like Mothering Sunday tied to the church calendar.
Already at the beginning of June as Father's day approaches as I write this, my in box has many emails beseeching me to buy Father the perfect gift, ranging from Ipods to articles of clothing. It is suggested that special Father's day meals are prepared for a celebration rather like a second Christmas holiday.
Even Presidents have become involved, George W Bush made a speech in 2003 for Father's Day as an official President's Father's Day Proclamation. In his speech he extolled the virtues of Fatherhood and his importance in the Family. Fathers are irreplaceable in the family teaching their children not only true life values but useful things like bicycle riding and driving a car.
The then President suggested that celebrations should be encouraged to extoll the virtues of good Fathering and flags should be flown to mark the occasion.
These days, the roll of Father in the family has changed. Many Fathers now stay in the home as house husbands looking after the children while the wife and Mother returns to work. Male couples are allowed to adopt children so that some households have not one but two Fathers.
With the importance of a Father's role in the home it seems fitting that there is a special day to honor him. Father's Day or rather more correctly Fathers' Day has come a long way!
Family Fun
