Surprising Facts That You Didn’t Know About Father’s Day
Unsplash: Maël BALLAND
If you think about it, there’s a holiday and a celebration for a
lot of things, be it something random or something specific.
Ice Cream Day.
Hug Your Cat Day.
Hug Your Dog Day.
Public Sleeping Day.
World Compliment Day.
Mario Day.
Winnie the Pooh Day.
Let’s not forget
Mother’s Day
and Father’s Day. Just name it and do a quick Google search for
it, surely something will pop up in about three seconds or less.
Like many of these aforementioned celebrations,
Father’s Day
is a day to honor fathers and father figures all around this
blue marble. In most places, including the US, the UK, Canada,
India, Ireland, Malaysia, and many more, Father’s Day is
celebrated on the third Sunday of June. However, in other
countries, this day is celebrated at other times of the year. In
Spain, it is celebrated on March 19. In Australia, it is
celebrated on the first Sunday of September. In Sweden, it is
celebrated on November 12. Regardless of where, when, or how
this event is celebrated, this special day is all about
honoring
fathers and father figures. But, what else do you know about
Father’s Day?
- First Father’s Day was celebrated in 1910.
- Father’s Day was not recognized as a national holiday until 1972.
- Father’s Day in Thailand is also the Thai King’s birthday.
- Germans celebrate the day with lots of drinking beer and eating traditional food.
- Rose is the official flower of the celebration.
- One of the largest holidays for sending cards.
Sonora Louise Smart Dodd, daughter of a farmer and Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, advocated for a day to celebrate and honor fathers. She spoke to the Spokane Ministerial Alliance and suggested that the celebration be held on her father’s birthday on June 5. However, the organization decided to celebrate the event on the third Sunday in June.
In 1924, US President Calvin Coolidge promoted the concept of Father's Day. Then, in 1966, US President Lyndon Johnson endorsed the nationwide commemoration to be held on the third Sunday of June. But it wasn't until 1972 that US President Nixon officially declared Father's Day a national holiday.
Thailand celebrates National Father's Day on December 5, which is also the late King Bhumibol’s birthday. On this day, schools and businesses are all closed so people can celebrate fathers across the country.
In Germany, Father’s Day is known as Männertag or Vatertag and this public holiday happens on Christian Ascension Day. The day involves a lot of eating delicious food and drinking good, cold beer outdoors.
A red rose is used to honor fathers who are still alive, whereas a white rose is used to honor fathers who have passed away.
According to Hallmark, about 72 million Father's Day greeting cards are purchased each year, making Father's Day the fourth most popular card-sending holiday of the year.
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