HISTORY OF FATHER'S DAY

Earliest History of Father's Day

Scholars believe that the origin of Father's Day is not a latest phenomenon, as many believe it to be. Rather they claim that the tradition of Father's Day can be traced in the ruins of Babylon. They have recorded that a young boy called Elmesu carved a Father's Day message on a card made out of clay nearly 4,000 years ago. Elmesu wished his Babylonian father good health and a long life. Though there is no record of what happened to Elmesu and his father but the tradition of celebrating Father's Day remained in several countries all over the world.



History of Father's Day in US

Modern version of Father's Day celebration originated in United States of America and thereafter the tradition spread in countries around the world. The world owes thanks to Ms Sonora Louise Smart Dodd a loving daughter from Spokane, Washington as it is because of her struggle that Father's Day saw the light of the day.



The idea of Father's Day celebration originated in Sonora's mind when she per chance listened to Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Fairly mature at the age 27, Sonora pondered if there is a day to honor mother then why not for father? Sonora felt strongly for fathers because of the affection she received from her own father Mr William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran. Sonora's mother died while childbirth when she was just 16. Mr Smart raised the newborn and five other children with love and care.



Inspired by Ms Anna Jarvis's struggle to promote Mother's Day, Ms Dodd began a rigorous campaign to celebrate Father's Day in US. The Spokane Ministerial Association and the local Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) supported Sonora's cause. As a result Spokane celebrated its first Father's Day on June 19, 1910. Though there was initial hesitation the idea gained gradual popularity all over US and Fathers Day came to be celebrated in cities across the country.



Looking at the heightened popularity of Father's Day in US, President Woodrow Wilson approved of this idea in 1916. President Calvin Coolidge too supported the idea of a national Father's Day in 1924 to, "establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations". After a protracted struggle of over four decades, President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the third Sunday of June as Father's Day in 1966. Then in 1972, President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. Sonora Smart Dodd was honored for her contribution at the World's Fair in Spokane in 1974. Mrs. Dodd died in 1978 at age 96. 

Funny Poems Christmas

Its that time of year again for Funny Poems Christmas. No, I haven't got dyslexia. That's how funny Christmas poems are most commonly searched forCatherine Masters complained that the Queen sent her the same birthday card each year and this prompted Fred MacAuley who has a newsy chat show on BBC Radio Scotland to discuss how to make an impact when sending Christmas cards.Olive of Olive Designs, a card maker was on the show to talk about card making and I was invited on as a card verse writerShould you be so inclined you can listen to the show on hereRadio Showbut below are the two verses I wrote to illustrate how verses can be personalised. The first is a verse that the Queen might penAs your Queen and SovereignIt behoves one to sayArise! On Christmas morningAnd have a wonderful dayMy husband and I(And all the Queen's horses and all the Queen's men)Want your annus to be wonderfulisIn two thousand and ten(Annus mirabilis is the correct Latin phrase meaning "wonderful year" but that's just not funny. Phillip Larkin wrote...life was never better thanIn nineteen sixty-three(Though just too late for me) -Between the end of the Chatterley banAnd the Beatles' first LP.)At the end of the piece Fred asked for another sample personalised verse which I'm glad to say I had prepared beforehand. This is for a card I shall send to the programmeTo the very best Beeb radio showMerry Christmas MacAuley and CoMay 2010, the year anewBring continued success to Fred and crewMore Funny Poems ChristmasThis funny poems Christmas blog page is copyright Jon Bratton but of course individuals, including Her Majesty, may use the material for non commercial purposes

Name All 52 States in USA

Left click the image to enlarge itAs a self confessed search engine tart I seek out common searches which are not well catered for and this one 'Name all 52 states in USA' is a corker. On a daily basis 1200 people want the search engines to find web sites that name all 52 states and quite naturally there aren't many takers.So guys here I can name all 53...I've even thrown in the State CapitalsNote there are eight starting with MAnd none with B or EAnd eight starting with NAnd none with J, Q, X or Z(That rhymes if you are North American)Alabama MontgomeryAlaska JuneauArizona PhoenixThere's more, don't you knowArkansas Little RockCalifornia SacramentoCanada OttawaI'm sure that's soColorado DenverDelaware DoverConnecticut HartfordThe list is not overFlorida TallahasseeGeorgia AtlantaHawaii HonoluluWe're starting to canterIdaho BoiseIllinois SpringfieldIndiana IndianapolisWhat next is revealedIowa Des MoinesKansas TopekaKentucky FrankfortWe're getting there. EurikaLouisiana Baton RougeMaine AugustaMaryland AnnapolisHang on in there, BusterMassachusetts BostonMinnesota St. PaulMichigan LansingAnd that's not allMississippi JacksonMissouri Jefferson CityMontana HelenaWe're sitting prettyNebraska LincolnNevada Carson CityNew Hampshire ConcordWe're still sitting prettyNew Jersey TrentonNew Mexico Santa FeNew York AlbanyI've got more to sayNorth Dakota BismarckNorth Carolina RaleighOhio ColumbusThere's more, don't dallyOklahoma Oklahoma CityOregon SalemPennsylvania HarrisburgI knew I could name 'emRhode Island ProvidenceSouth Dakota PierreSouth Carolina ColumbiaWe're getting thereTennessee NashvilleTexas AustinUtah Salt Lake Citywhere I once got lost inUnited Kingdom, LondonVermont MontpelierVirginia RichmondWhat did I tell yeahWashington OlympiaWest Virginia CharlestonWisconsin MadisonI'm done but for oneWyoming CheyenneThat's almost the last call52 StatesBut that's not allThere's one more to nameBefore the conclusionWhat about all those folk livingIn the state of Confusion?For more click the linkName All 52 States in USAThis Name all 52 states in USA blogspot entry is copyright Jon Bratton