 A look at ‘Father’s Day’
We had Mother’s Day in May, with all the
celebrations and trimmings. This month it is a day devoted to ‘Fathers’.
It was not created – contrary to popular
misconception – as a holiday in order to help greeting card manufacturers
sell more greeting cards.
In fact when a "Father’s Day" was first
proposed there were no Father’s Day cards!
Mrs. John B. Dodd (Sonora Smart Dodd)
of Washington, thought of the idea while listening to a Mother’s
Day sermon in 1909 and first proposed the idea of a "father’s day".
She wanted a special day to honour her father to let him know how
proud she was of him.
Henry Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran
was widowed when his wife (Mrs. Dodd’s mother) died in childbirth
with their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn
and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern
Washington State.
It was after Mrs. Dodd became an adult
that she realized the strength and selflessness her father had shown
in raising his children as a single parent, who had made all the
parental sacrifices and was – in the eyes of his daughter – a courageous,
selfless and loving man.
The first Father’s Day was observed on
June – his month of birth - 19, 1910 in Spokane, Washington, and
at about the same also time in various towns and cities across America.
Other people were beginning to celebrate
a "father’s day". In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the
idea of a national Father’s Day. Roses are the Father’s Day flowers:
red to be worn for a living father and white if the father has died.
Finally in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson
signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd
Sunday of June as Father’s Day.
Father’s Day has become a day to not only
honour your father, but all men who act as a father figure. Stepfathers,
uncles, grandfathers and adult male friends are all to be honoured
on Father’s Day.
In Germany "Vatertag" is usually celebrated
on "Christi Himmelfahrt" – the second Thursday before Pfingsten
(Pentecost) and is also know as ‘Herrentag’ or ‘Maennertag’.
Today’s format for celebrating this day
originated at the end of the 19th century – in and around
Berlin – and is still one of most revered festivities among the
male populace.
In East-Germany it is glorified by the
so-called "Herrenpartie" usually with trips to the countryside and
an unusual consumption of alcoholic beverages. But it can also be
a family celebration with trips to the country via automobile or
motorcycle.
Statistics show that traffic accidents
– caused by excessive alcohol consumption – rise about threefold
from the normal daily averages.
In the rest of the world a ‘father’s day’
is also fêted on diverse dates of the year.
That is something you can look up on various
websites – just google "Fathers Day" or get it in German at Wikipedia.
We also wish a Happy Father’s Day to our readers from the team
at ECHO GERMANICA.
Shopping in Farm Country
But this is not the only item that is
important in June. The farmers markets are in full swing again either
to pick your own or get the ready-picked items in season.
If you are headed east – towards the Steeles
Avenue and Markham Road area, WHITTAMORE’S FARM is now going
full tilt. Asparagus, Rhubarb and of course those delicious Strawberries
are on the menu, fresh from the farm daily, plus garden plants,
mixed planters and hanging baskets are being offered at unbeatable
prices. Their bakeshop is brimming with home-baked fruit pies and
other delectable goodies and the preserve cupboard is full of the
NEW Signature Preserves and their feature line "Wildly Delicious".
Their newest attraction is the WHIT’S CHICKS animated show that
will have the kids clucking for hours. Visit the Fun Farm Yard and
tire out the small fry on the Barn-bouncer, Turbo Slide, 2-story
Tree Fort, Wagon Ride, Tractor Tire Climb and other great activities.
Check out their birthday party info on:
www.whittamoresfarm.com.
If you are headed for the west end or
the Brampton area, then DOWNEY’S FARM MARKET – on
Heard Lake Road - is the most logical place to visit. But you don’t
have to wait till Canada Day – and the Strawberry Festival. There
is always something going on at Downey’s for young and old alike.
Watch the goats climb a 25 foot walkway to their feeding station.
Then visit the other farm animals in the Kritter Korral. In the
barn market visit the Farm Bakery for the freshest baked breads,
pies and treats. Check out the vegetable displays for delicious
veggies and the displays of mouth-watering jams, jellies, honey,
maple syrup and preserves. Visit the ice cream saloon, for a cool
treat and many other delights. Check out more offerings on their
website:
www.downeysfarm.on.ca.
To find plants or gardening supplies head over to GLEN ECHO NURSERIES on Airport
Road north of Sandhill and south of Caledon East – but prepare yourself
for spending some time on site. There is so much to see and absorb
mentally that it is uncanny and one finds it difficult to believe
the variety of plants or gift items offered in the nursery, the
gardens or the gift shop. You will find everything from Water Features
and Sculptures to small seed envelopes or colourful pertinent literature.
If there is something you cannot locate,
ask for Valerie – and tell her I send you – she will be glad to
help. More info on the website:
www.glenecho.com
Enjoy the Spring and the coming of summer
As always
Dick Altermann
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