“To the world, you are a father but to our family, you are our world”
Our first playmate and the one who taught us to ride the cycle is our father. Our fathers have a very special place in our hearts. In any society, be it modern, medieval, or ancient, fathers have had a significant position. There may be several relationships in a child’s life but not a single one of these can be a perfect substitute for a father-child relationship. Hence, a day is dedicated to honoring the importance of the role of a father who is the protector. He is one of the important pillars of the family. Father’s Day is a day when we try to express our admiration for our fathers for always being there with us. Fathers are our guides, a philosopher, and more than that, the dear and most reliable friends of our children after a certain age. There is every reason of celebrating such an important relationship and Father’s Day has been designed for this purpose.
It has been observed in all ages and eras, that when one finds difficulty and faces adversaries in life they find the shoulders of their fathers. This day has its history just as other days and festivities. It was an ancient practice of worshiping ancestors including father and mother. This tradition was maintained by many civilizations in distinct forms. With time modern society also felt that there was a need for a day just dedicated to fathers. People started celebrating Mother’s Day first and from that was born the idea of celebrating Father’s Day. Even though the idea was rejected by the fathers themselves saying that it was an attempt to domesticate the men by gifting flowers and chocolates just as they did on Mother’s Day. For the father’s they held no sentimental appeal to this at all. They even said it was just a marketing gimmick to upscale the sale of flowers and other commodities. The patriarchal society thought it was pretty silly to dedicate a day to fathers when Mothers were the ones who were only underappreciated. However, sentiment changed over the years for several years.
Sonora Smart Dodd was inspired by the idea of Mother's Day hence she appealed for a day dedicated to fathers. Although the efforts were made in the early 20th century it was in the 1970s only when Father’s Day was recognized officially in the US by President Nixon. Now if you are wondering when is Father's Day, every year, this special day falls on the 3rd Sunday of June.
The significance of Father’s Day is related directly to the personality of a father. Every child needs both a father and mother in order to get good mental health. If a Mother is the soul of a body then Father is the body itself. One cannot live without the other such is the significance of a father in the life of a child. In the primary stages, both father and mother remain responsible for taking some important decisions related to the education and growing up of the child. If a father can set good examples of leading life in a healthy way, the child is bound to follow the same. Anyone, with good ideas, proper education, and a healthy lifestyle, is a treasure for every society. He can not only lead his life properly but can also help others to do the same and can shape society in a positive manner. In this way, a father can contribute to the development of a whole society.
All these and many more make a father very significant in today’s modern society and because of this, celebrating this relationship and this responsibility is very significant today. Like any other part of the world, India also celebrates Father’s Day with full enthusiasm. So, don’t hesitate to celebrate this day by sending Father's Day gift to your father and surprising him. As gifts convey our unspoken admiration and gratitude, it is the best way to celebrate an occasion like such.
