Father’s Day and June Wedding Traditions

Father’s Day was the idea of Sonora Louise Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington. Sonora, one of six children, wanted to pay tribute to her father, who after the death of her mother, raised Sonora and her five siblings on his own. After listening to a sermon on Mother’s Day in 1910, Sonora approached the speaker in regards to a similar day to honor fathers. On June 6, 1910, during the meeting of local ministries at Spokane’s YVCA building, Mrs. Dodd presented a petition that the third Sunday in June be set aside as a national Father’s Day. The ministers endorsed the petition, and it soon gained the attention of many national figures including Woodrow Wilson. In 1914, Congress endorsed Father’s Day. Then, in 1971, a proclamation by President Richard Nixon established Father’s Day as an annual national observance.

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June is the leading month for weddings. So, it is a good time to evaluate the phrase “A bride supposed to wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.” This wedding tradition comes from an English rhyme describing the custom of a bride to wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

Something old signifies continuity and could be a piece of lace, jewelry or a handkerchief. Something new signifies optimism for the future and is often an article of clothing or the wedding rings. Something borrowed represents happiness, which is often a piece of jewelry from a happily married relative or friend. Something blue signifies fidelity, loyalty and love. In early biblical times, blue, not white symbolized purity. Both the bride and the groom usually wore a band of blue material around the bottom of their wedding attire. The six pence was originally presented to the bride’s father who places a coin in the bride’s show prior to leaving home for the church.

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In keeping with wedding traditions, here is something of interest. Why a best man?? In some societies a would-be groom had to abduct the bride of his choice. To make sure he would not be disturbed, while carrying her off the love of his life, a good friend accompanied him to fight off anyone who might attempt to try and stop him.

More traditions to follow.

Enjoy your weekend.

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