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FATHER"S DAY IN THE UNITED STATES

by Scott Hammond

The United States is one of the few countries in the world that has an official day on which fathers are honored by their children. On the third Sunday in June, fathers all across the United States are given presents, treated to dinner or otherwise made to feel special. A day to celebrate fatherhood and male parenting, Father’s Day is observed on the third Sunday in the month of June in many countries around the world. The occasion gives an opportunity to express love and affection to all fathers and fatherly figures. The day helps in strengthening the father-child relationship all the more. Just like a mother is regarded as the sole nurturer of a child, the father helps in the development and emotional well-being of the child. A father plays the role of a guide, supporter, motivator and protector in any child’s life.

Credit for originating the holiday is generally given to Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, whose father, a Civil War veteran, raised her and her five siblings after their mother died in childbirth. She is said to have had the idea in 1909 while listening to a sermon on Mother's Day, which at the time was becoming established as a holiday. Local religious leaders supported the idea, and the first Father's Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, the month of the birthday of Dodd's father. Regardless of when the first true Father's Day occurred, the strongest promoter of the holiday was Mrs. Dodd of Spokane, Washington. Mrs. Dodd felt that she had an outstanding father.

What do people do?
Father's Day is an occasion to mark and celebrate the contribution that your own father has made to your life. Many people send or give cards or gifts to their fathers. Common Father's Day gifts include sports items or clothing, electronic gadgets, outdoor cooking supplies and tools for household maintenance.

Father's Day is a relatively modern holiday so different families have a range of traditions. These can range from a simple phone call or greetings card to large parties honoring all of the 'father' figures in a particular extended family. Father figures can include fathers, step-fathers, fathers-in-law, grandfathers and great-grandfathers and even other male relatives. Although it was originally largely a religious holiday, Father's Day has been commercialized with the sending of greeting cards and the giving of gifts. Some observe the custom of wearing a red rose to indicate that one's father is living or a white rose to indicate that he is deceased. Other males—for example, grandfathers or uncles who have assumed parenting roles—are often also honored on the day.

How can I make this Father's Day special for my Father?
There are all kinds of things you can do to make Father's Day special for your dad. Here are a few suggestions:

* Make dad breakfast in bed. Have a BBQ in dad’s honor. Have a family get together.
*Send him flowers, the red rose is the official Father's Day flower.
*Do secret acts of kindness; include doing one of dad's chores for him, like taking out the garbage :)
*Be obedient. Do your chores, without being asked. Take heed Adult kids!
*Get along with your brothers and sisters. Ditto! Make or take him out to dinner.

The idea of Father's Day was conceived slightly more than a century ago by Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Wash., while she listened to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father. Since that time she set in motion a unique American Holiday to honor dads and affirm the role fathers play in our families, society, and culture. On behalf of all dads: Thanks Sonora!

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