The History of Father’s Day
Father’s Day, as we know it today, is a celebration honoring fathers, father figures, and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society. While its origins are relatively modern compared to other holidays, the journey to its establishment was long and filled with heartfelt intention.
Early Inspirations
The concept of honoring fathers dates back to ancient civilizations. For instance, the Babylonians are known to have had a tradition where sons wrote messages to their fathers on clay tablets. However, there was no formal or widespread annual observance.
The Birth of a Modern Father’s Day in the United States
The push for an official Father’s Day began in the early 20th century in the United States, inspired by the establishment of Mother’s Day in 1908.
Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington is credited as the founder of Father’s Day. Her father, William Jackson Smart, was a Civil War veteran and a single parent who raised six children on his own after his wife died during childbirth.
In 1909, while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon, Sonora felt that fathers deserved a similar day of recognition. She proposed the idea to local churches, the YMCA, shopkeepers, and government officials.
The first Father’s Day celebration was held on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington.
Recognition and Struggles
Despite growing support, Father’s Day did not gain immediate national recognition:
In the 1920s and 1930s, there was an effort to combine Mother’s Day and Father’s Day into a single holiday called Parents’ Day, but it didn’t gain traction.
Retailers, particularly those selling men's goods like ties and tobacco, began promoting Father’s Day, which led some to view the holiday as too commercial.
President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea in 1924 but didn’t issue a proclamation.
President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers in 1966, designating the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day.
Father’s Day was officially made a permanent national holiday in 1972 when President Richard Nixonsigned it into law.
Father’s Day Around the World
While the U.S. celebrates it on the third Sunday of June, many countries observe Father’s Day on different dates:
Spain, Italy, and Portugal: March 19 (Feast of St. Joseph)
Germany: Ascension Day (40 days after Easter)
Thailand: December 5 (King Bhumibol Adulyadej's birthday)
Australia and New Zealand: First Sunday in September
Modern-Day Celebrations
Today, Father’s Day is celebrated with cards, gifts, and family gatherings. It's also a time for reflection on fatherhood and the impact of paternal figures in our lives—whether they are biological fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, or mentors.
Here's a heartfelt poem dedicated to all the fathers of the world, honoring their strength, love, sacrifice, and quiet heroism:
To All the Fathers of the World
To every man who bears the name,
Of Father, Tatay, Papa, or the same,
You walk a path both strong and wide,
A quiet strength you do not hide.
With calloused hands and steady gaze,
You guide your children through life’s maze.
You build their dreams with silent grace,
And plant your love in every place.
Through early dawns and sleepless nights,
You face the world and all its fights,
Not for praise or grand reward,
But for the lives you’ve gently scored.
You teach by doing, lead with care,
You’re often firm but always fair.
You carry hopes upon your chest,
And give your all, then give the rest.
Some wear suits, some work the land,
Some guide with words, some with their hands.
Yet all of you, in every land,
Deserve a world to understand—
That being "Dad" is more than role,
It’s shaping hearts and guarding souls.
It’s being strong when times are tough,
And knowing love is strong enough.
So here’s to you—both near and far,
No matter who or where you are.
A toast, a prayer, a word, a song,
To fathers who have loved so long.
You are the roots beneath the tree,
That lets us grow and set us free.
We honor you, your care, your worth—
The quiet heroes of this earth.
THIS poem is based on what you've shared—that your father was Dr. David J. Katague from Barotac Viejo, Iloilo, a man of strong values and dedication, and that you are his eldest child out of seven—I’ve written this personalized tribute poem to honor your father and, through him, all fathers like him.
For My Father, Dr. David J. Katague
(A Tribute to All Fathers Through His Life)
From Barotac’s shores to healing halls,
You stood a man both proud and tall.
A healer’s hands, a scholar’s mind,
A father's heart—so rare to find.
In quiet strength, you forged your path,
With gentle words and measured wrath.
You taught us more than books could hold,
In stories lived and virtues told.
The eldest son, I watched you rise—
Through every storm, beneath the skies.
Seven souls you raised with grace,
Each one a mirror of your face.
You taught me how to lead, not rule,
To value heart beyond the school.
That being first was not just pride,
But duty walked with love as guide.
You loved in ways that made no sound,
In deeds where sacred strength is found.
Through sleepless nights and long, hard days,
You shaped our lives in countless ways.
The stethoscope around your neck,
Could not contain the quiet trek—
Of all the roles you came to play,
A father’s love led all the way.
So on this Father's Day, I say,
Your legacy lives on each day.
In every choice and path I take,
It’s you behind the steps I make.
And as I honor you in rhyme,
I honor fathers lost to time—
Who gave their best, and often more,
To build the lives they struggled for.
Here is the Hiligaynon(our local dialect in Iloilo province) translation of my personalized Father's Day tribute poem: Hiligaynon is one of the eight major dialects ( language) in the Philippines. Tagalog or Filipino is the National Language. I am proficient in both languages.
Para sa Amay Ko, si Dr. David J. Katague
(Pagpasidungog sa Tanan nga Amay, paagi sa Imo Kabuhay)
Halin sa baybay sang Barotac nga matawhay,
Tubtob sa klinika sang pagbulong kag away.
Nagpanindog ikaw nga maayo kag buot,
Amay nga may tagipusuon nga puno sang paglaum kag lugot.
Sa hilum mo nga kusog, naglakat ka guid,
May hutik lang nga pulong, pero hugot kag matin-aw ang giya.
Ginpanginbulahan kami sang imo kabuhi,
Mas labaw pa sa libro nga amon gintun-an sa eskwelahan.
Bilang pinakauna nga bata, ginlantaw ko ikaw mag-alsa,
Bisan sa kasakit kag kabudlayan, indi ka nagpaluya.
Pito kami nga imo ginpadaku’ sang mahangpan,
Tagsa-tagsa, daw hulagway mo nga buhi kag buotan.
Gintudluan mo ako magpanguna, indi lang magpamata,
Nga ang tunay nga lider may paghigugma nga matahum kag wala ginauba.
Ang pagkauna indi lang kahitas-an,
Kundi responsibilidad nga may paghigugma kag pagpalangga nga walay baylo-an.
Ginpakita mo ang paghigugma nga indi mabatyagan sa tingog,
Kundi makita sa buhat nga matinumanon kag maligon.
Sa gab-i nga wala ka nagkatulog kag adlaw nga wala ka pahuway,
Imo kami ginporma, tagipusuon namon imo ginhimo nga palanggaay.
Ang istetoskopyo sa imo liog,
Wala makapugong sang imo kabudlay kag gugma nga dalagku nga bug-os.
Sa tanan nga papel nga imo ginbato,
Ang pagka-amay amo guid ang pinakabantog.
Subong nga Adlaw sang Amay, ginapasidunggan ko ikaw,
Imo panumduman nagapadayon tubtob subong nga adlaw.
Sa kada tikang nga akon ginabato,
Ikaw ang gahum sa likod sini nga paglakato.
Kag samtang ginatamyaw ko ikaw sa sini nga balak,
Ginadayaw ko man ang tanan nga amay nga wala na sa kalibutan.
Nga naghatag sang tanan, indi lang kuarta o oras,
Kundi kabuhi nga ginhalad para sa aton nga pag-uswag kag kabaskug.
No comments:
Post a Comment