Ed Said - Spare a thought

 

As a youngster brought up in the country, Father’s Day came and went with little or no fanfare at all. Times have changed and I feel there is generally much more family togetherness these days driven largely by technology which spans the globe at the press of a button.

While outstanding works and feats by women have been celebrated and revered down through the ages, it was a Sonora Dodd from Spokane in Washington who instigated the inception of a Father’s Day. Partly inspired by the unofficial Mother’s Day services which began in 1908, Mrs Dodd wanted to pay tribute to her late war hero father, William Smart, who became a single parent when her mother died in childbirth. William Smart raised six children on his own, which was an unusual feat at that time and would still be viewed as such today. Originally Mrs Dodd wanted to hold the memorial service on the anniversary of her father’s death – June 5 1910 – however this did not leave organisers enough time to prepare a service. Instead it was arranged to be held on June 19, and this has become known as the first Father’s Day.

While services continued every year, it was not until 1924 that US President Calvin Coolidge recommended Father’s Day as an official national holiday and even then it took 48 years from that recommendation before Father’s Day was officially recognised by President Nixon in 1972. Most countries follow the US tradition and celebrate Father's Day on the third Sunday in June, however New Zealand and Australia celebrate it on the first Sunday in September – different date but similar season. 

Some cultures around the world coincide Father's Day with other celebrations in their community to bring familys together on this day. The Southern Hemisphere adopted it in a similar season but different date from the US. 

Father’s Day is all about making Dad feel a little special, and letting him know how much you appreciate the role he plays in your life. Unfortunately some families are without Fathers and some men are estranged from or have little contact with their offspring for a variety of personal reasons. There is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to families.

Dad’s Day has a small yet significant part in our family. A daughter was born on Father’s Day back in 1972, the date being September 3 in that year. Later our eldest grandson, her firstborn, also arrived on Father’s Day in 1998, September 7, thus he turns 21 this weekend. So Father’s Day this year will be one to remember.