Time to Honor Dad

With summer drawing near and the weather warming up, southeastern Pennsylvania’s neighborhoods come alive with the sights and sounds of the season: lawnmowers, power tools, and backyard barbecues, to name a few.

For many people, those things all bring to mind one specific person: Dad. And since Father’s Day is just around the corner, we at Berkshire Insurance Services thought we’d give you some gift ideas – and some fun history trivia, too!

The history of Father’s Day

Marked on the third Sunday of June in the United States (and in many other countries), Father’s Day was first celebrated in 1910 to complement Mother’s Day. According to the History Channel, “On July 5, 1908, a West Virginia church sponsored the nation’s first event explicitly in honor of fathers.” It was “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.” This was a one-time commemoration and was not repeated annually.

The following year, Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Wash., tried to establish an official Father’s Day. Although Dodd originally suggested her father’s birthday in early June, she had not provided organizers with enough time to arrange the event. The celebration was delayed until the third Sunday of the month.

Although Mother’s Day has been an official national holiday since 1914, Father’s Day had a more challenging road. Congress refused to make the celebration official in the years immediately following Dodd’s first observance, fearing that the day would become commercialized. (Some would say those fears were well-founded; the creator of Mother’s Day later came to regret the commercialization of that holiday.)

It wasn’t until 1966 that Father’s Day received an official proclamation, thanks to President Lyndon B. Johnson. And six years later, President Richard Nixon signed a law making the day a national holiday.

Facts and figures (from government website USA.gov)

• There are an estimated 72 million fathers across the nation
• An estimated 20% of single parents are men
• Approximately 215,000 fathers are stay-at-home dads

What to get Dad?

Once you’re past the age of, say, 10, the “Old Spice and a tie” routine probably won’t cut it anymore when it comes to getting a gift for your father. Here are some better ideas from AskMen.com:

• Grilling tools (this way, perhaps he’ll even cook for you on Father’s Day!)
• Fishing gear
• Golf clubs, balls, or other sporting goods – or take him out for a round of golf
• Books (particularly grilling cookbooks)
• Gadgets (such as a GPS; after all, many dads don’t like asking for directions)
• Landscaping services (so he can take a break from mowing the lawn)

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Aside from ties and cheap cologne, you’ll probably want to avoid the most clichéd gifts, especially “World’s Best Dad” items (even if it’s true!) and socks.
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As with all gifts, though, it’s the thought that counts. And we’re sure your dad will appreciate simply being appreciated.
Here at Berkshire Insurance Services, we would like to wish all the amazing dads a very Happy Father’s Day! We hope you enjoy your special day.