▪︎Father’s Day is extremely important as it helps to acknowledge the contribution of fathers to individual families and to societies.
Beside observance; Father’s Day provides children an opportunity to express love and respect for their fathers. The sentiment goes a long way in strengthening father-child relationship and consequently in the emotional development of a child.
The idea of celebrating Father’s Day Festival was mooted by Ms Sonora Dodd, from Spokane. Her father Henry Jackson Smart single-handedly raised Sonora and five of her siblings after the death of her mother during childbirth. When Sonora attended a Mother’s Day Sermon in 1909, she thought that if there is the day to honour mother then there should also be a corresponding day to honour fathers. Sonora worked relentlessly for years to ensure that the idea of Father’s Day becomes a reality. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge first recognised Father’s Day.
In view of the massive popularity of the festival, in 1972, President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father’s Day to be held on the third Sunday of June.
Over the years, the concept of celebrating Father’s Day spread beyond geographical boundaries. Today, millions of children across the world express gratitude to their dads as they celebrate Father’s Day.
Many people laughed at Sonora Dodd when she introduced the idea of having a Father’s Day, as traditionally, only mother is regarded as the sole nurturer of a child. The role of father is often relegated. But we know that father is just as important for a child as the mother. If mothers are the heroes of child upbringing, the significance of father in the development and emotional well being of a child is no less.
Children depend on their father for their spiritual, emotional, physical, financial and social well being. For daughters, father is the ideal man in the world and also the first man they adore, while for sons, father is an idol and the strongest man they aspire to emulate.
Though traditionally father is seen more as a provider and guide for children, the scenario changed significantly in nuclear family culture of today. With most husbands and wives working, fathers in present times are as involved in child rearing job as the mothers. Today, most fathers do not shy from changing nappy or taking the difficult task for putting the baby to sleep. This cultural change is helping in strengthening father-child relationship and consequently in emotional development of a child and building of stronger family bonds.
Father’s Day festival gives us the opportunity to express thanks to our Daddy for all their unconditional love and affection. Observance of Father’s Day makes fathers feel that their contributions are acknowledged in the society and also by their children. They feel proud of themselves! Also, by celebrating Father’s Day, children come closer to their father, because most often, children take love of their parents for granted.
Father’s Day celebration makes them ruminate on the important role their father plays in their life. This helps them appreciate the selfless care and protection provided by their father, thus drawing them closer.
Children must therefore take full opportunity of the day and express their gratitude for their fathers deep from their heart.