Ever wondered where the concept of Father’s Day came from? Learn more about the history of the day as well as some great gift ideas for dada and the amazing discounts, freebies and value adds on offer from Amazing Vouchers.

By the time a man realises that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong. - Charles Wadsworth

A dad is usually the guy that yells at the TV when his favourite sport is on, uses our full names when he is angry and disappears between 8 and 5 every work day. But he is also the man who makes sure we can go to school, plays cricket with us in the garden and Googles the French Revolution the night before an assignment is due to help us with our homework.

A Mother’s contribution to the family have long been recognised with their own special day, and rightly so, but it is only in recent history that we have sat back and acknowledged the work that a father does. Family roles have changed significantly in the past few decades and gone are the days of mothers doing all the cooking and fathers hibernating in their workshops. With this new equality in nappy changing duties, dads too deserve a special day to be recognised and spoilt.

Where Father’s Day Come From?

The first recorded celebration of fathers occurred in the United States in the state of West Virginia in 1905. This church service was held in celebration of the 361 fathers who were killed in a mine explosion a few months before.

However, it is Sonora Smart Dodd that is credited as being the driving force behind the establishment of the day as an official holiday. Her widowed American Civil War veteran father, William Jackson Smart, single handedly raised her and her five siblings and she felt her father deserved to be recognised for his sacrifices. On the 19th of June 1910, her father’s birthday, she held the first Father’s Day celebration and the idea was welcomed by many.

Smart Dodd’s petition to have the day recognised as an official holiday won the support of President Coolidge and in 1926 the National Father’s Day Committee was formed in New York. But it took 30 years for the holiday to be formally declared by congress and it was President Nixon that declared the third Sunday in June the official day in 1972.

A World-Wide Day for Dads

Father’s Day as it is called in many countries is celebrated in the American tradition on the third Sunday in June and is a family day reserved for showing appreciation for our dads.

Vatertag in Germany is celebrated on Ascension Day, 40 days after Easter. It is tradition to go on a family hiking tour pulling a small wagon packed with food and wine from your particular region.

Baba Day is celebrated in Taiwan on the 8th of August every year. This 8th day of the 8th month of the year is significant as, in Chinese Mandarin, the pronunciation of the number 8, bã;, similar to the word, bà, which means father and affectionately gives the day the name baba.

In Thailand, Father’s Day doubles as a day to honour the King. Celebrated on the Monarch’s birthday, the date differs according to the royal on the throne and is currently on the 5th of December.

Making your Father Feel Special

Advertisers and retailers have pinned this holiday as the one to flog nifty gadgets and technical gizmos for fathers. While many fathers love this sort of thing, don’t be swayed by the barrage of adverts for night vision goggles that you will undoubtedly receive. While a cool sounding gift and a novelty, they’re not cheap and not exactly the most useful and practical gift!

The best advice is to get something that your dad will like, which sounds so simple it’s almost ridiculous. Every father has that special something that he likes, but won’t usually buy for himself - be it a special type of chocolate, biltong, magazine or the new CD from his favourite band. Getting your dad something that he really likes shows you put some thought into it and you can be assured he won’t have to fake his gratitude!

Budget Father’s Day Gifts

For those of us who prefer to get something a little out of the ordinary, but are on that mid-year tight budget, don’t despair, there are so many options out there that you will have trouble choosing just one!

• Bake your father a dessert, pie or cake. This affordable option shows lots of effort on your part and can only go down well and what dad doesn’t have a sweet tooth?
• Make your dad something special. Memories books, special photo frames, homemade candles, a cover for his golf clubs, all show the immense love you have for you dad and although they try and hide it, our old dad’s are fairly sentimental and might even shed a sneaky tear!
• Arrange a day out with your father and the whole family. Plan a scenic hike and a picnic or arrange a family tennis tournament – just make sure your dad doesn’t lose!
• Many dads have hobbies – why not decorate his equipment? Get creative and artistic and make your dad think of you every time he whacks his own personal customised golf balls.
• Dad’s work hard every day to take care of us, so make him a week of special lunches of all his favourite foods to make him feel spoilt for more than just one day.
• Lots of father’s have a crazy dream that they one day aspire to. It could be sky diving, watching a Formula 1 race or kayaking the Amazon River. Open a bank account or make a change jar with whatever you can afford to show him that you support him.

For the Extravagant

For those with slightly higher budgets, there are some unique things available for our dad’s in 2008 that go far beyond the tie and hanky set.

• Buy your father some home gym equipment, from dumbbells to a treadmill, this is a gift that keeps on giving and promotes a healthy lifestyle in your loved one.
• Get your father an MP3 player to use while he is driving, at work or just pottering around the garden.
• Send your dad on an amazing experience that he would never expect. Advanced Driving Courses, Aeroplane trips, rides in Ferraris or a whirl in a Formula 1 car are always hits and you might just have to tag along to keep him company!
• Buy your dad a subscription to his favourite magazine for a gift that doesn’t end when the sun sets on Father’s Day.
• Buy your dad some new accessories to go with his latest gadget like an MP3 player case or a new memory card for his digital camera.
• Book a day at the golf course and go unwind with your father. This could even include a massage or day at the spa. It’s not only mother’s that need some pampering every now and then!

The Ease of Buying Father’s Day Gifts Online

Another fun option for Father’s Day is to buy your dad a gift online. Not only is this quick and easy for you, but there are a myriad of unusual options available and they can usually be delivered right to your dad’s doorstep. Have his favourite wine or champagne delivered with a personalised label or get the latest offering from his favourite author wrapped and dropped off at his home.

Buying online also means that you get that special something for your father that is not available in South Africa. Buy him chocolates from Belgium or that elusive CD that you just can’t find here. All you need is a credit card and a little time on your hands to do some online searching, and you are guaranteed to find the perfect Father’s Day gift.

The Unusual Option of Online Vouchers If you simply can’t decide what to buy for your dad, then online vouchers are an ideal option. We all know that father’s are not the most avid shoppers and conventional gift vouchers force them out to that dreaded mall. Online vouchers on the other hand allow them to browse the Internet in their slippers and leisurely choose their own present from the huge variety available online.

Other online sites, like Amazing Vouchers, take this one step further. A monthly subscription gives you thousands of Rands or vouchers every month and ensures that your dad feels special every day, not just Father’s Day! With his vouchers he can try out new activities like judo and action cricket and receive amazing discounts on his next meal or evening out drinking with the boys. The vouchers even include professional services like hanging blinds and unblocking drains, giving your dad a break from those dreaded DIY chores.

More About Amazing Vouchers

Amazing Vouchers offers huge discounts and freebies to subscribers each month with a R195 monthly fee resulting in over R3000 worth of discounts and free services and products. Applicable only to your region no voucher every goes to waste and there is something new and exciting on offer every month. For a great Father’s Day gift, subscribe to Amazing Vouchers today!

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