Don’t Forget Father’s Day

Father's Day is one day in the year when fathers are allowed to think of themselves as being a little special. It is generally treated as a light-hearted celebration of the father's role in the family, and is recognized in many countries throughout the world.

There is no internationally agreed day on which Father's Day falls, however in the US, UK, Canada, Chile, France, Japan, India and many other countries, it is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. Events of a similar nature have originated in different countries for different reasons. For example in Thailand it is celebrated on the birthday of the King, and in Spain and Portugal it is celebrated on March 18th, St. Joseph's day.

The object of Father's Day is simply to give recognition to fathers for their contribution to family life. The first requirement in celebrating the day is to remember it is approaching. This is not usually difficult in this age of marketing and promotion. Card companies create special in-shop promotions, and television and radio broadcasts remind us of the urgent need to spend money. In a city, only a recluse can forget Father's Day.

Most fathers are happy simply to feel acknowledged and loved. On Father's day therefore, they really appreciate contact with their children. This might mean a visit from a child or, if distance is a problem, a phone call. It is one occasion when the greatest happiness is derived from the simplest of gestures.

Commercial interests ensure no time is lost in promoting Father's Day as a retail opportunity. We are now conditioned to acceptance that love is not enough, and must always be accompanied by socks and a scarf. As fathers get older, and have everything in life they need, selecting a gift gets to be a big problem. In those countries where Father's Day falls in June, this could be a perfect time for day trip to the countryside. A child's time is appreciated much more by their father than their money.

However Father's Day is celebrated, and whenever father's day is celebrated, it's overriding contribution to life is the opportunity it provides for children to show simple appreciation to their fathers. In a world where we sometimes feel awkward at showing emotion and sentiment, Father's Day is a formalized opportunity to say what we always wanted to say, but didn't have the courage.