The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
It took additional 58 years to honor fathers
One of the very few occasions in which females blazed a trail initially, it took 58 years after President Wilson declared Mother’s Day an official holiday, until Lyndon Johnson declared Father’s Day, a nationwide holiday in 1966. Then in 1972, President Nixon declared the 3rd Sunday in June to be the permanent day on which we recognize fathers.
One reason it took so long was that retailers felt that fathers didn’t have the same sentimental appeal as mothers. How wrong they were!
It is estimated that Americans now spend more than 1 billion each year on Father’s Day gifts. As unlikely as it seems, the “Great Depression” caused retailers to double their efforts to make Father’s Day official and a “second Christmas for men.” Also, during the 1930’s, there was a movement for a single “Parents Day” on which to honor and respect both parents together but it never gained much traction. Later, during World War II our everinventive advertisers promoted Father’s Day as a way to honor American troops and support the war.
The inspiration for Father’s Day is credited to Sonora Smart Dodd, who was listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1910 and decided that her father, William Jackson Smart, a single parent who had reared six children on his own, deserved a day that recognized fathers.
Sonora would no doubt be surprised and pleased that this year marks the 100th anniversary of Father’s Day, which is now celebrated all over the world. Quite a few countries honor fathers on March 19, St. Joseph’s Day which is a traditional Catholic holiday.
In Australia and New Zealand, fathers are honored on the first Sunday in September and in Thailand, Father’s Day is December 5, which is the king’s birthday. Russia, true to form, has a celebration that evolved from a military commemoration and tribute to all men and celebrates on February 23; it is known as Defender of the Fatherland Day with parades celebrating the armed forces.
Judging from the various websites offering all manner of Father’s Day gifts, we still seem to hold a rather outmoded “James Bond” model of manliness. Although a few sites still suggested cuff links (does anyone use these anymore?) and watches, many more package gifts in masculine “crates” with contents of Knife Making Kit, Beard Wrangler Mini Crate (a mere $70), Auto Care Crate, Bloody Mary Crate and a Caveman Crate which offers “Neanderthal Nutrition.” Guess there must still be some “You Tarzan, Me Jane” style marriages this would appeal to in case your guy has enough colorful ties.
Unfortunately, several sites are still promoting guns as gifts (semiautomatics are a steal at $1,599) despite yet another shooting in Virginia the other day. This led members of the Republican baseball team to request additional monies for capital police for security at their homes and other locations. Has anyone considered stricter gun laws? If passed, that might just be the best Father’s Day gift ever invented.