Sunday, June 19, 2016

Father's Day 2016 - The Origin, History & All About

By M H AHSSAN | INNLIVE

Father's Day is considered to be the day of recognition of meritorious service of that one person, the FATHER, who is there with us in all our way helping us to cross the barriers, making us feel secured and shower on us all the pleasures of life. So don't you think a day is required to recall and recognize this sacred personage for all the pains which he underwent in rearing up us. 

Father's day is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of June every year. This is a day celebrated similar to that of mother's day which was started in the early twentieth century to honour our fathers and also forefathers. The year 2010 is going to celebrate the Fathers day on the 20th of June and also another special news for all those who are planning for this day is that, it is going to be the 100th Father's Day for it came into existence in 1910.Generally on the Father's day the children's surprise their fathers by giving gifts or planning a vacation with him for a couple of days so that they can spend some more time with the father. On this special occasion the fathers are also greeted by ecards, greeting cards or bouquets.

History:
It was Sonora Smart Dodd from Spokane, Washington who first wanted to have a special day for the children to honour their father. The idea of having a Father's day struck her when she was listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909.Sonora's father William Jackson Smart was very special to her for it was he who raised her up after her mother's death. William Jackson Smart bestowed the maximum love and was very selfless and made all possible parental sacrifices he could in rearing up his daughter. 

So Sonora as gratitude to her father wanted to host the first Father's Day celebration on 19th of June for William Jackson Smart was born in June. Slowly many people across America started celebrating the Father's Day which led to formation of a National Father's Day Committee in New York in 1926 and later it was recognized by a Joint Resolution of Congress in 1956.Finally around 1972 President Richard Nixon fixed the 3rd Sunday of June every year as the Father's Day. They also started following some dress code like red to be worn for a living father and white if the father has died and Roses are supposed to be flowers for the Father's Day.

Customs and Tradition:
Traditionally Father's Day is been celebrated with goodies and gifts like cards, flowers, chocolates, neckties, shirts, electronic gadgets, stationery items. Also the bond between the father and children is strengthening by games and other activities. The other traditional practice also includes where children along with their Dads, pay tribute to grandfather, stepfather, foster father, uncle or men who plays the Father figure role in their lives.

Father's Day in India:
Though the concept of Father's Day came from the Western countries, the Indians highly appreciate this and also observe Father's Day to express their love and gratitude for their father. When it comes to India awareness of Father's Day is much more only in metro cities. However in recent years even people in small towns are coming to know about the Father's Day celebration cards and gift sellers. In India it is generally celebrated by going out for dinners or picnic or a movie show with the fathers.

Father's Day around the World:
The third Sunday of June is not the universal day for the Father's day celebration. It is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of June in US and Canada whereas in rest of the world it is celebrated March, August, September, November and December. In Australia it is celebrated on the first Sunday of September where the father's are usually invited for a special breakfast and this is a traditional practise.Most of the Catholic Countries celebrate Father's day on March 19 and they also call it as St. Joseph's Day for Joseph was the father of Jesus. They usually show their love by sending a card or a letter. In South Africa the Father's Day is celebrated on 3rd June where they go out as a family for picnics.

Father's Day Gifts:
Father's day gift is an integral part of the celebrations. The festivities are incomplete if there are no appropriate gifts that say more than words. Father's day gifts are the ideal means to tell your father how much he means to you. The array is wide and choosing the most appropriate one should not be a problem.

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