Father's Day

Father's Day was created in the United States to complement Mother’s Day. The day was promoted by Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd, whose father, a Civil War veteran, reared[1] her and her five siblings[2] as a single parent. She was inspired by Mother's Day. She suggested June 5th, the day of her father's death, for the celebration, but there wasn’t enough time to prepare, so the first Father’s Day, held in the state of Washington, was postponed[3] to June 19th, which happened to be the third Sunday of June in 1910, now the officially recognized day. Like Mother’s Day, this day has become highly commercialized. Male-oriented products, such as cologne, ties[4], tools[5] or coffee mugs[6] with the slogan "World's Best Dad" printed on it, are given as gifts[7]. Let’s briefly reflect about fatherhood[8]…

While Nature belongs to Mom (Mother Nature), time belongs to Dad, and is referred to as Father Time. And although we are the children of Mother Earth, the country where you were born and bred[9] is considered your fatherland[10]. The founder[11] of a family, nation or tradition is known as a forefather[12]. Other famous fathers include Father Christmas (otherwise known as Saint Nick, Santa Claus or Papa Noel) and the Godfather[13] (a mafia head[14]).

Before you were born, you were just a twinkle[15] in your father’s eye. The twinkle refers to the moment your mother caught your father’s attention[16]! One thing led to another, and here you are now! An observant Ghanaian proverb says, When you follow in the path of your father, you learn to walk like him. Whether that’s good or bad, is another matter[17]. A child, who resembles[18] his father, is said to be a chip off the old block[19] or you can say, like father like son.

Let’s end with an Italian joke: “A priest is a man who is called Father by everyone, except his own children, who are obliged to call him Uncle!”

[1] crió, [2] hermanos y hermanas, [3] aplazado, [4] corbatas, [5] herramientas, [6] tazones, [7] regalos, [8] paternidad, [9] criado, [10] patria, [11] fundador, [12] antepasado, [13] padrino, [14] jefe, [15] brillo, [16] atrajo la atención, [17] cuestión, [18] se parece, [19] de tal palo tal astilla