Fathers Day
Fathers 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.
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Father’s Day
Questions
1. Why was a memorial service given in West Virginia in July 1908?
4. In what year was the first official Father’s Day in the world celebrated?
5. Other than biological fathers, who else might be celebrated on this day?
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Father’s Day
Answers
1. Why was a memorial service given in West Virginia in July 1908?
The memorial service was given in West Virginia to honour the lives of 362 men who
had perished in an explosion at the Fairmont Coal Company mines.
4. In what year was the first official Father’s Day in the world celebrated?
The first Father’s Day was celebrated in 1910.
5. Other than biological fathers, who else might be celebrated on this day?
Any man who plays the role of a father in someone’s life might be celebrated on this day
(e.g. stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, godfathers, carers, friends, mentors).
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Father’s Day
Although it is seen around the world today as a day of celebration, Father’s
Day actually has its roots in a tragedy. On 5th July 1908, a memorial event
was held to honour the lives of 362 men who had perished in an explosion at
the Fairmont Coal Company mines in West Virginia, USA. A great number
of the men who died were father figures in their communities.
There are no set traditions for how people celebrate Father’s Day in Australia
because no two people are exactly the same. People have different ways of
showing their appreciation, not only to their biological fathers, but to any
man who plays the role of a father in their lives. The most common ways to do
this would be to spend quality time with that person, to give a thoughtful gift
that suits him or to perform a thoughtful gesture that will brighten up his day.
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Father’s Day
Questions
1. What happened on 5th July 1908 in West Virginia?
2. Why do you think Sonora Dodd was so determined to have a national day just for fathers?
5. Other than biological fathers, who else might be celebrated on this day?
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Father’s Day
Answers
1. What happened on 5th July 1908 in West Virginia?
A memorial event was held to honour the lives of 362 men who had perished in an
explosion at the Fairmont Coal Company mines.
2. Why do you think Sonora Dodd was so determined to have a national day just for fathers?
Sonora Dodd was determined because she wanted to show appreciation for her father,
who had raised her and her siblings on his own.
5. Other than biological fathers, who else might be celebrated on this day?
Any man who plays the role of a father in someone’s life (e.g. stepfathers, uncles,
grandfathers, godfathers, carers, friends, mentors).
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Father’s Day
While it’s now seen around the world as a day of celebration, Father’s Day has
its roots in a calamity. On 5th July 1908, a memorial event was held to honour
the lives of 362 men, who had perished in a devastating blast at the Fairmont
Coal Company mines in West Virginia, USA. Many of the men who died were
father figures in their communities.
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Father’s Day
Questions
1. What does ‘calamity’ mean?
3. Why do you think Sonora Dodd was so determined to have a national day just for fathers?
5. How could you work out the date of Father’s Day next year?
6. Other than biological fathers, who else might be celebrated on this day?
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Father’s Day
Answers
1. What does ‘calamity’ mean?
Calamity means tragedy/disaster/a damaging or distressing event.
3. Why do you think Sonora Dodd was so determined to have a national day just for fathers?
Sonora Dood was so determined to have a national day just for fathers because her
mother had died and she wanted to show appreciation for her father, who had raised
her and her siblings on his own.
5. How could you work out the date of Father’s Day next year?
Father’s Day is on the first Sunday of September (3rd September 2017; 2nd September
2018; 1st September 2019; 6th September 2020).
6. Other than biological fathers, who else might be celebrated on this day?
Any man who plays the role of a father in someone’s life might be celebrated on this day
(e.g. stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, godfathers, carers, friends, mentors).
visit twinkl.com