Father’s Day is a universal holiday that dates back to the Middle Ages in Catholic Europe when Fathers were celebrated on Feast Day of Saint Joseph in 1510. However, we can go back as far as the ancient Romans who honored deceased fathers every February. In the United States Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June and was first celebrated in 1910. The tradition of celebrating fathers on Father’s Day continues today and while not always on the same date, Father’s Day is celebrated worldwide in many countries such as in Burkina Faso, Bulgaria, Dominican Republic, Albania, as well as in the United States.
While each country has their own traditions of honoring fathers, most include activities such as shared meals, picnics, time with their families and thoughtful cards and gifts. Nightlight Christian Adoptions recognizes the importance of a father and father figures in a child’s life as well which is why we want to honor them on Father’s Day and to recognize the important role and contribution they make in children’s lives and strong families.
Nightlight would like to wish a very Happy Father’s Day to all our fathers and prospective fathers for being the men of steel in the family and holding it together in times of stress. Thank you to fathers for being the man that comforts the mothers when they are overcome with the stress of adoption and sometimes taking over to preserve mom’s sanity. Thank you, to the fathers teaching your little ones to throw a baseball or football, to ride a bike for the first time without training wheels, for taking your children fishing and, yes, even for braiding their daughters’ hair. Thank you to fathers for a shoulder to cry on for mom and children when the going gets tough in life. Thank you to fathers for showing love to your child’s mother and demonstrating what it means to be a dad and a husband. After all, it has been said the best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. Thank you fathers for knowing your children learn more through action than through words. Most of all, thank you to all the fathers for being loving, caring, and supportive to your children. Thank you to our adoptive fathers for being willing to open your hearts and homes to a child in need.
On Father’s Day, June 18th, it is our opportunity to thank all of the wonderful fathers out there - adoptive, step, foster, biological, and “informal” father figures. We want to acknowledge your stellar contribution to your own families as well as to your communities throughout the world. This is our opportunity to celebrate you and to show our love and respect for you for the important role you play in building strong families and happy children.
Happy Father’s Day!