Who knew Father's Day wasn't always so happy?

[uk666 5,298]

Who knew Father's Day wasn't always so happy?

This Sunday, families across the world will mark the special bond between fathers and their children.

For many, this is often done through the giving of gifts and cards. Others prefer to enjoy a meal and quality time.

While sometimes criticised as being a commercial event, its roots are more historic than many people think.

While your dad probably enjoys being showered with gifts and love on this special day that was not the case with the average dad, back when the day was first created, over 100 years ago.

In fact, the history of Father’s Day is quite long and controversial.

Mother’s Day actually came first (it was celebrated as far back as the 1860s and declared a national holiday in 1914) and paved the way for Father’s Day.

The history of Father’s Day goes back to 1908 when a church in West Virginia held a sermon to honour 362 men who were killed the previous year in a coal-mining explosion. This was the country’s first ever event to strictly honour fathers, but it was just a one-and-done thing. Nothing really came of it.

The following year, however, a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd started her quest to establish Father’s Day as a national holiday.

Dodd was one of six raised by her single father and thought fathers should be honoured the same way as mothers. After a year of petitioning her local community and government, Dodd’s home state of Washington celebrated its first official Father’s Day on June 19, 1910.

Over the years, the celebration of Father’s Day spread from state to state and, after a long fight, it was finally declared a national holiday in 1972 when President Nixon signed it into law.

It took more than 60 years from the birth of the idea to Father’s Day actually being recognized as a federal holiday and a lot sure did happen in that time.

According to History.com, in the 1920s and 1930s, there was a national movement to get rid of both Mother’s and Father’s Day and replace them with one “Parent’s Day.” Beyond that, some men didn’t even want a Father’s Day to begin with.

Some saw it as a “Hallmark” holiday invented for the sole purpose of a commercial gimmick. Others saw it as an attempt by society to squash manliness.

Today, Father’s Day is celebrated worldwide on different days. For example, in Europe, the United States, and the majority of other countries, the holiday is celebrated on the third Sunday of June. In South America, March 19 is Father’s Day. In Australia and Fiji, it falls on the first Sunday in September.

Father's Day falls on Sunday 17th June 2018 so let us make sure Dad is treated to a unique Father's Day present!

[Rædwulf 1,441]

nice story, ty.. 

[Tech 425 3,942]

Great Story :)