Father's Day

For most people, Father’s Day is a happy day, but it has a sad start to its history. On 5th July 1908, a memorial event was held to honour the lives of 362 men who had died in an explosion at the Fairmont Coal Company mines in West Virginia, USA. Many men who died were father figures: fathers, stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, godfathers and carers

          Why was a memorial service given in West Virginia in July 1908?

• To celebrate the opening of a new mine
• To honour the lives of the 362 men who died in the mine explosion
• To commemorate the founding of the town

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One year later, a young woman named Sonora Smart Dodd heard about Mother’s Day. Sonora’s mother had died when she was 10 years old and she was one of six children who had been raised by her father. She decided to try to gather support to start an official national day to honour fathers.

     Who was Sonora Smart Dodd?

• Sonora Smart Dodd was a young woman who wanted to honor fathers by creating a national day for them.
• Sonora Smart Dodd was a politician who advocated for children's rights
• Sonora Smart Dodd was a famous actress who started Mother's Day

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Sonora talked to a number of groups about her plan. She talked to the YMCA, shopkeepers, and the government. Finally, 19th June 1910 was chosen by Washington State to be the world’s first official Father’s Day. Other countries chose their

own official days to celebrate Fathers’ Day. Australia celebrates Father’s Day on the first Sunday in September each year.

1.                     Who did Sonora try to get support from?

• Local businesses, fire stations, and libraries
• Schools, hospitals, and the post office
• YMCA, shopkeepers, and the government

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Did You Know?

•              In the UK, Father’s Day is celebrated each year on the third Sunday of June.

•              Sonora Dodd originally wanted Father’s Day to be celebrated on the 5th of May, which was her father’s birthday.

When was Sonora 's father birthday ?

• 15th of April
• 8th of July
• 5th of May

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People in Australia celebrate Father’s Day in many different ways. It is a good time to show appreciation to any man who acts like a father. Some of the most common ways to do this might be to spend quality time with that person, to give a thoughtful gift that suits him or to perform a thoughtful gesture that could brighten up his day.

                   What does ‘role of a father’ mean?

• Father's Day is only for biological fathers
• Role of a father is limited to financial support
• Responsibilities, actions, and characteristics associated with being a father figure

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