Why do we in India celebrate Father’s Day a US National holiday?

While shopping for gifts yesterday, I came across this huge sign in a shop window advertising Father’s Day. Over the years, this public US holiday has become part of our holiday list as well. Luckily it is a Sunday so we don’t have the loss of another working day, but what it ensures is an increase in sales of men’s shirts, perfumes, ties and other accessories. It also means more dinner/lunch  reservations for families celebrating Father’s Day.

As Ripley would say, believe it or not, the Third Sunday in June has been declared a National ( read US) holiday by none other than President  Nixon in 1972, 6 years after President Johnson mandated it to be celebrated as such. Several countries since then have followed suit, India included.

Undoubtedly, the US achieved el supremo status after saving the Western World from two terrible wars that radically revolutionised the social order. They also changed the way the world did business. It was no wonder then that it’s superiority extended to the cultural domain, and  Father’s Day , like chewing gum, apple pie, Coca Cola, garbage bins and yellow school buses have gained Universal acceptance and become  part of our traditions too.

Unfortunately, I’m not celebrating Father’s Day with my own father, but am celebrating it with a lazy brunch at the Club with the father of my girls.

How are you celebrating Father’s Day?

[ctt title=”Happy Father’s Day to all the Daddies of the World! May you have a lovely Sunday.” tweet=”Happy Father’s Day to all the Daddies of the World! May you have a lovely Sunday.” coverup=”T91EN”]