Happy Fathers Day 2021
Happy Father’s Day
In Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea Father’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in Spring. This year it falls on Sunday, 5 September 2021. The most common date on which the Father’s Day is celebrated is the third Sunday in June, a tradition which is derived from the US and now followed in more than 70 countries. There are varieties of other dates on which Father’s Day is celebrated around the world in addition to these dates.
Fathers hold a special place in our hearts and Father’s Day is celebrated worldwide although on different dates and months. It is a great way to appreciate the contribution the father figures make to the lives of their children and essentially it celebrates male parenting and fatherhood.
Background and History
Among the many concepts behind Father’s Day, the one idea that stands out was introduced by an American woman called Sonora Smart. Sonora was inspired by the Mother’s Day celebrations while listening to a sermon in 1909 and came up with the idea to honour her father, a civil war veteran. After the death of her mother, her father Henry Jackson Smart took the responsibility of raising Sonora and her five other siblings as a single parent. She was inspired by his courage, love and selfless devotion to his children, and this was her way of showing how special he was to her. Sonora’s father Henry was born in June and so she chose to hold the first Father’s Day in Spokane, Washington on 19 June 1910.
Three Cheers for Sonora Smart! We have a whole big day to appreciate the fathers who play a significant role in the lives of their children.
In Australia, Father’s Day was first celebrated in September 1936 and interestingly not in the month of June. I have always wondered why Father’s Day in Australia did not align with the Father’s Day in the US or UK. I was not even aware that Father’s Day was celebrated on a variety of dates around the world. One day I discovered that when I wished my family in the US and UK on Father’s Day, and I got a prompt reply that they do not celebrate Father’s Day on the first Sunday of September. Here’s a little explanation for those who are wondering why that might be the case.
Apparently, the days of the calendar celebrated in Australia mostly fall within the months of April and June apart from Christmas and Boxing Day. These holidays include Easter, Anzac Day, Queen’s birthday and Mother’s Day, all of which are embraced by the retailers. Although the sales are not guaranteed, for many businesses holiday periods have a significant impact on annual profits as the majority of their sales take place during the holiday period. It appears there is a kind of “holiday fatigue” among consumers with so many holidays during these months and according to experts, consumers grow tired of constantly being bombarded with holidays and need time to recover. Hence, it is only fitting that Father’s Day is placed a little apart from the Easter holidays and hence moved to September. This way, the consumers get the much needed time to recover from that fatigue. This essentially means it will give the time for the pockets to recover in readiness for the holidays to follow ie. Father’s Day, Christmas and Boxing Day!
I dedicate this post to the two dads who were a special part of my life and will always be.
To my Dad and my Pappa (Father-in-law)
Happy Father’s Day to two special dads
GATHER AS A FAMILY. celebrate FATHER’S DAY.
While I cannot repay what my dad has done to me, I would like to say a thank you every day to my dad in heaven.
