Father’s Day 2018 History 5 Fun Facts & 5 Thoughtful Gift Ideas

By Chrish Harry on June 13, 2018 0

On Father’s Day (as the name implies) fathers are celebrated the world over with card, gifts, family meals, time spent together, congratulations & wishes. Read on to know a brief history, five facts you probably didn’t know about Father’s Day & five popular gifts with a thoughtful twist, briefly spelt out in the last section.

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The photo was taken on Father’s Day luncheon held at the Pacific Views Event Center, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, USA. This quote by Mark Twain on Goodreads summarises dads the world over:
When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.

Brief History
Father’s Day is said to be celebrated since the middle ages in Catholic Church tradition as the feast of St. Joseph, however, it was not until the early 20th century (for the first time in 1908) that it was celebrated in the US. In France, Father’s Day was first introduced in 1949 by the lighter manufacturer Flaminaire as a marketing gimmick. The slogan used by Flaminaire translated into English is: “Our fathers told us, for Father’s Day they all want a Flaminaire”. It was not until 1952 that France recognised Father’s Day officially. This is perhaps due to the tradition of young men hiking around with hand drawn carriages filled with beer, which they often stop to enjoy along with local food. 5 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know
President Richard Nixon signed the Father’s Day Bill into law in 1972 when it became a national holiday in the United States of America. It was not until 1966 that Lyndon Johnson signed an executive order recognising the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day. Many attempts were made since then to formalise this holiday, most notably by Sonora Smart Dodd since 1910. This was greeted by initial trepidation in the USA due to the fear of this being simply commercial marketing tactics, however by mid-1980, Father’s Day was cemented into the cultural fabric of much of the western world. Thailand, observes Father’s Day on the birthday of the king. After his passing, his son, Rama X made December 5 the official day for celebrating Father’s Day in Thailand. 1. In the Netherlands, it is a tradition for children to make breakfast for their dad and also serve it in bed! The family also spends time over dinner together, traditionally at their grandparents. The first bill to officially recognise Father’s Day was introduced in the US Congress in 1913 but was unsuccessful. It is traditionally held on the third Sunday of June, so the declared holiday might not be very relevant, except if you work on Sundays!
In Germany, alcohol-fuelled accidents are three times more likely on Father’s Day, according to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany. The late king Bhumibol Adulyadej’s (Rama IX) birthday is on December 5, so Father’s Day was set for that day while he was alive.

5 Popular & Thoughtful Gift Ideas
Tie – A necktie is consistently one of the most popular gifts on Father’s Day. But, make it thoughtful by choosing a personalised mug (a personal message) instead of the standard ‘World’s Best Dad’ variations. Mugs – Coffee mugs are popular gifts too. Socks – These are also popular gifts and are useful. A multi-tool which combines many tools together might be the safest bet. Gadgets – The safest bet for men, you can make your gadget-gift thoughtful by choosing something which you know he wants or needs or matches his hobbies rather than the latest random gizmo. Make your choice more thoughtful by going in for monograms or maybe even funny personalisation. Make yours thoughtful by going in for a fun/unusual tie as opposed to a professional tie. Tools – The coolest gift you can get but may be tough to get right if you have no idea what he wants.

In the middle east, Father’s Day falls on midsummer’s day or on the summer solstice. So, if you live in Saudi Arabia, visit Wadi.com & check out their Gift-Store . Also, see our global Dragon Souk for electronics, clothes & more at Wadi, the largest online shopping – Read Home Page – destination in the middle east.