Father’s Day is celebrated across the world to honour fathers and fatherhood, acknowledging their role in families and society. It is a day to show appreciation for fathers and father figures, expressing gratitude for their contributions and sacrifices. The day highlights the importance of paternal bonds and the influence of fathers in shaping individuals and families. It also provides an opportunity to express love, gratitude, and respect for fathers, acknowledging their support and guidance.

Most Canadian dads look forward this Sunday to gifts from their children and the favourite gifts are shaving sets, tool sets, socks, ties, and perfumes, etc.

Origin of Fathers’ Day can be traced to Sonora Smart Dodd, who was raised by a single parent – her father. She was inspired to celebrate a day to honour her father on learning about Anna Jarvis’s effort to establish Mother’s Day. She wanted June 5 to be that day – her father’s birthday. Later, Sonora proposed that the Father’s Day be celebrated on June 19, 1910, the third Sunday of June. Dodd continued holding these celebrations in Washington, for many years until she left to study art in Chicago. She resumed celebrations when she returned to Washington in the 1930s. US President Lyndon B. Johnson designated the celebration of Father’s Day with a presidential proclamation in 1966, and Father’s Day was made a national holiday in 1972 by President Richard M. Nixon to fall on the third Sunday of June.

As with many holidays of today, Father’s Day began as a religious observance. A traditional Christian holiday celebrating fatherhood, dating back to the Middle Ages. Traditionally, Father’s Day took place on March 19, which is the date the Christians celebrate the Feast of St Joseph – the father of Jesus Christ.

Despite the original controversy surrounding Father’s Day, society has had a growing awareness of the importance of fathers. In the early 1900s, fathers did not receive much credit for the influence they had on their children. In fact, most psychological studies completed on parenting focused their research on mothers. However, in the 1970s, psychologists started recognising the importance of fathers.

While mothers have been recognised as the primary family-makers, times have changed as more women join the workforce with fathers becoming more involved in raising children and the family. Fathers today work hard to take care of their families by providing for their needs, helping with household chores, and spending time with their children.

Recent studies found that children raised by an involved father are more likely to be emotionally secure, be confident to explore their surroundings, and have better social connections. (Involved fathers play an important role in children’s lives – INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH ON POVERTY – UW–Madison) An active and nurturing style of fathering result in better verbal skills, intellectual functioning, and academic achievement among children. Children who have involved fathers are more likely to be healthy emotionally, socially, and intellectually. Even when children face crises, having an involved father helps children regulate their behavior. Surprisingly children who have absent fathers are more likely to engage in at-risk behaviors.

Some unlucky ones do not have positive relationships or views of fatherhood from our earthly fathers. If you suffered abuse or neglect at the hands of your father, spend the day focusing on your heavenly Father – the God we believe in, Who loves you unconditionally.  He is a Father Who will never hurt you and is always there for you.

On the Fathers’ Day of 2023, our son Nikhil gifted me a perfume and said, “I am proud of you Dad for bringing me up with all the skills and values. Today I stand at the threshold of my life of joining the Canadian Army as an officer.  This could not have been possible without your dedication, perseverance and commitment.”

“Thank you,” I said and added, “It is all due to your determination and hard work.”

I now looked up at the skies to thank my father who too raised me well to join the Indian Army as an officer. I never thanked him ever as I never knew the importance of doing it.  Rather, I did not know that Fathers’ Day existed until I migrated to Canada.

Let us all take the opportunity on this Fathers’ Day to express our gratitude to him.