murabane

I love history ...

"On July 5, 1908, a West Virginia church sponsored the nation’s first event explicitly in honor of fathers, a Sunday sermon in memory of the 362 men who had died in the previous December’s explosions at the Fairmont Coal Company mines in Monongah, but it was a one-time commemoration and not an annual holiday. The next year, a Spokane,Washington woman named Sonora Smart Dodd, one of six children raised by a widower, tried to establish an official equivalent to Mother’s Day for male parents. She went to local churches, the YMCA, shopkeepers and government officials to drum up support for her idea, and she was successful: Washington State celebrated the nation’s first statewide Father’s Day on July 19, 1910. Slowly, the holiday spread."  (Historically Ms. Dodd is considered the Founder of Father's Day due to her diligent promotion of the day on a national level).

Hallmark was founded in 1910. 

I find no evidence that Hallmark started as such a powerful company that they were able to initiate Father's Day in the very year they were founded.  As I recall it wasn't until the late 1990's that Hallmark acquired a Britain card company and began distribution there, but seems Father's Day had gained some ground in the UK as early as the 70's.  Since the UK's roots aren't as deep as they are here in the US it may be that it is simply seen as a day to send a card and not much else -- I don't know.

I know that here in the US many of us do have large family gatherings.  My Dad's side of the family gathers every other year, so next year there will again be 5 (well by then 6) generations all together for a weekend - 120+ people some camping, some at an adjacent luxury hotel.  I'm blessed to still have my Dad alive and he enjoys spending time with me, and I with him.  My Dad may be an tough Ex-Marine who survived some of the most horrific fighting in the S. Pacific in WWII and then in the Chosin Valley in Korea, but I know that despite us talking every few days on the phone and going to visit him several times a month that he was a bit sad the one year I was traveling and not able to spend Father's Day with him, but of course we're both positive people who like to laugh a lot so we have fun when we talk and spend time together