Father’s Day was celebrated in the early 20th century in the United States to complement Mother’s Day and celebrate fatherhood and male parenting.
There are several theories on the origin of Father’s Day but the most popular and acclaimed originates from Sonora Smart Dodd. Prompted by Anna Jarvis’ creation of Mother’s Day, she wanted to create a similar holiday for other family members.
Sonora grew up with her five siblings, all raised by their father, William Jackson, a single parent and war veteran. After Sonora heard a sermon about Anna Jarvis’ Mother’s Day story in 1909, she informed the pastor that she’d love to have a similar holiday honouring fathers.
She chose June 5th, her father’s birthday but due to the pastor’s busy schedule and inability to prepare the sermon notes on time, it was shifted to the third Sunday in June and it has been celebrated ever since.
A bill to recognize Father’s Day was introduced by Congress in 1913 but it was in 1972 that President Richard Nixon signed it into law, recognizing Father’s Day and making it a permanent national holiday. The trend has become almost a global celebration (some countries observe on other dates) and though Father’s Day has gained a lot of recognition it still does not however enjoy the same commercial success as Mother’s Day. In Nigeria, Father’s Day is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of June like it is done in America.
Father’s Day is an opportunity to be thankful, to pay tribute and honour men by children presenting cards and gifts to their fathers, grandfathers, uncles, step-fathers or any man who acts as a father figure to them.
It is a noble idea to equally celebrate fathers and the strong men in our lives.
So what gifts have you considered? Socks? A necktie? A pair of shoes? Shirts? Hair clippers? A wristwatch? A briefcase? A Smartphone?
Whatever it is that you decide on, it is the spirit of giving that matters as well as the act of showing them that they are appreciated and loved. If you are at loggerheads with your father, this is the right season to make amends. Pick up your phone and call. Happy Father’s Day!
