As we approach another Father’s Day it is an opportune moment to lift the curtain on the marketing hype and consider the historical origins of this celebration. What if we discover that Father’s Day is not an innocent holiday, an excuse to take the old man out to the pub on a summer Sunday or a quiet walk across a favourite beach.
A festival from pagan times
Father’s Day has Pagan roots going back thousands of years. It is closely related to the worship of the sun gods. During the original Father’s Day celebrations, goats would be sacrificed and meat eaten in quantities that were exceptional when compared with the everyday diet of the community. This made Father’s Day a special event.
Father’s Day is also closely related to the summer solstice. The word solstice comes form the Latin word solstitum which means ‘sun stands still’. The summer solstice is of course, the longest day of the year. Pagans celebrated by sacrificing to the Sun Gods (think the Roman god Jupiter or the Greek god Zeus). We are still fascinated by these myths and legends. Leonard Cohen writes in his song, First we take Manhattan
“I’m guided by the signals in the heavens
I’m guided by the birthmark on my skin,
I’m guided by the beauty of our weapons,
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin”
In the Roman world festivities in honour of other gods also took place at the summer solstice. An example is the festival in honour of the goddess Juno. Juno is the wife of Jupiter andthe month June takes its name from her. Juno is also the goddess of women and childbirth so it’s interesting to note that Mother’s Day could have been linked to this time of the year. Juno is also the patroness of marriage and may explain why there are so many weddings at this time of the year
Fire up the barby!
If your ideal Father’s Day is to set the modern bonfire, the barbecue, cook some meat and have a few drinks then you are re-living the Pagan dream my friend. Bonfires are symbolic. The word ‘bonfire’ comes from ‘bone fires’ that refer to the ashes and bones left over from animal and perhaps human sacrifices some of which would have taken place in honour of Father’s Day.
Fuelling a feud?
We must remember that Father’s Day isn’t always a matter of celebration for everyone. Relationships between families and fathers can be difficult.
Often Father’s day can be an opportunity for reaching out, trying to bridge a gap, getting a new take on a long standing series of misunderstandings. Or just a day for Fathers and children to get together.
Leonard Cohen captures the tragedy of Father’s Day in the last verse of his song,
“Ah remember me, I used to live for music
Remember me, I brought your groceries in
Well, it’s Father’s Day and everybody’s wounded
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin”
Happy Father’s Day, I truly hope you have a ‘good’un’ however you plan to celebrate it.
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