The third Sunday of June has come and gone, but although many families celebrated Father’s Day, the remembrance was quite somber and with less fanfare. Although it may not be as flamboyant or commodified compared to Mother’s Day, it is still a significant occasion to pay homage to the most loyal men in our lives – our fathers.
Because fathers are themselves unique individuals with their own idiosyncrasies and brand of characteristics, allow us to deviate from the ordinary and the usual and, instead, provide our readers with some fun facts about this worldwide celebration of Father’s Day. While we celebrate it in the Philippines, the occasion actually originated from the West with its attendant culture and customs.
Credit is accorded to an Ilongga pediatrician, Dr. Alice Dumlao, who now resides in Australia with her family, who graciously shared these vignettes of information on her social network site.
To add a dash of extra amusement to Father’s Day and fatherhood celebrations, here are some fun facts:
• More than one-third of Father’s Day cards are funny in nature.
• Female shoppers spend 50 percent more than men on gifts for their Dads.
• The term, “Great White Father,” refers to the US President.
• A study came up with the fact that female shoppers spend approximately 50 percent more than men, while buying gifts for their Dads.
• The youngest father crown was barged by 13-year-old Alfie Patten, in February 2009, when he fathered a child with his 15-year-old girlfriend.
• The world’s oldest father was an Indian farmer named Nanu Ram Jogi, who fathered his 21st child at the age of 90, in 2007.
• In 2006, 66 percent of children younger than 6 were praised three or more times a day by their fathers.
• Fifty-three percent of children younger than 6 ate dinner with their father every day in 2006.
• Martin Luther King Jr. was originally named Michael, like his father. When Junior was 5, Dad changed both their names to Martin.
• Hammers, wrenches, and screwdrivers feature high on the list of Father’s Day gifts in the United States.
In whatever manner we refer to our “old man” – Daddy, Tatay, Papa, Ama, and others – the unchanged fact is that he is our guardian, our protector, our shield, our knight of shining armor, and most importantly, that we love him.
A shoutout and three loud cheers for all fathers and the concept of fatherhood! | NWI
