Father’s Day
Here is some trivia about Father's Day that I included in an article several years ago.
Father’s Day is an old concept. It has been celebrated on March 19, St. Joseph’s Day, in Europe since the Middle Ages.
In the U. S., the idea of a day to recognize fathers started to receive attention in the early 1900s. There were attempts made around the country to establish such a day, including one for Chicago proposed by Jane Addams of Hull House in 1911. The city turned her down.
In 1910, a woman in Spokane, WA , began promoting a day of recognition for all that fathers do. She and her siblings had been raised by their father after their mother died. She worked for this day on-and-off for decades. The idea was actually treated with ridicule by the press, law makers and the public. Mother’s Day had come under fire for evolving into a day of crass commercialism. The general belief was that this would be the same fate for Father’s Day. And there was validity to this concern – it was groups like the Associated Men's Wear Retailers that strongly promoted the day.
It took until 1966 for Father’s Day to be proclaimed a national day of recognition, by President Lyndon B. Johnson. It was finally signed into law in 1972. Through the years, other dates were proposed for the day, but the third Sunday in June stuck. By then that day had been promoted for decades by merchants pushing gift ideas. The number one gift on Father’s Day has always been – and curiously still continues to be – a necktie.
Studies and surveys have revealed what men really think of Father’s Day. A lot of men are actually uncomfortable with the day. They believe they are just doing what they should be doing – supporting and providing for their families – and there is no need to call special attention to this or for their children to give gifts in gratitude.
When dads are asked what they would like as a gift, the answer often is, "Nothing, save your money for school." Hence the fallback position to a necktie. But many men would rather see their children act responsibly and respectfully than give them gifts. It means more to many fathers to have their offspring volunteer to help with mowing the lawn than it does to receive those neckties.
However, there is one “gift” men report they would welcome. This is more personal time to pursue their own interests – an uninterrupted afternoon working on a craft project or reading a good history book or watching sports on T.V. The operative word here is “uninterrupted.”
Here are a few vintage postcards celebrating Father’s Day. To anyone who has served or is serving in a fathering role, thank you.
– C. Flynn, RHS Communications