Occasions for greeting cards

It was in 1910, when the American, Louisa Dodd, whose father fought between 1861 and 1865 in the War of Secession, initiated the movement in honor of fathers. These activities became so popular that in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge recommended the introduction of this special holiday to all of the US. The acceptance of Father's Day became so eminent among the American social classes that in 1974, President Nixon finally elevated it to join the ranks of an official public holiday to be celebrated the second Sunday in June.

In 1997, USA retailers sold more than 95 million Father's Day cards.

The German Father's Day is always celebrated on the same day as the Ascension Day. For some inexplicable reason, it has never actually attained the status it deserves as a day of honor for responsible, caring fathers. Like mothers, fathers, too, enjoy tokens of appreciation in the form of presents, cards or letters.

Often on this day, it is not uncommon to spot groups of men, both lonesome fathers and more increasingly even, non-fathers, walking, riding bikes and taking rides across the countryside by horse and carriage.

Text: Günter Garbrecht 2001, amended 2010 
Translation: Marcel Valtr, 2011