Father's Day festival is considered extremely important as it help
acknowledge the contribution of fathers to individual families and to
societies as large. Besides observance of Father's Day provide 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.
History of Father's Day
The idea of celebrating Father's Day Festival was given by Ms
Sonora Dodd, a loving daughter 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
honor mother then there should also be a corresponding day to honor
fathers. Sonora worked relentlessly for years to ensure that the idea of
Father's Day becomes a reality. In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge first
recognized 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 for their dads as they celebrate Father's Day
festival.
Significance of Father in our Lives
Many people laughed at Sonora Dodd when she gave the concept 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 to a
secondary status as compared to a mother. But all of us know that father
is just as important for a child as the mother is. If mothers are the
heroes of child rearing, 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 appears significantly changed in nuclear family
culture of today. With most husband and wife working, fathers in present
times are as involved in child rearing job as the mothers are. Today,
most fathers do not shy away 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.
Significance of Father's Day Festival
Father's Day festival give 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 ! Besides by celebrating Father's Day, children come
closer to their father. For, most often children take love of their
parents for granted. Celebration of Father's Day makes them ponder for a
while on the important role their father play in their life. This helps
them appreciate the selfless care and protection provided by their
father and hence they come emotionally closer to their dad.
Children must therefore take full opportunity of the day and express
their gratitude for fathers with all their heart. The best way to do so
is to do small things that daddy appreciates and by saying “I
love you, Papa” with a gift of beautiful flower.
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