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参考资料——父亲节的由来

人们在庆祝母亲节的同时，并没有忘记父亲的功绩。早在1909年，住在华盛顿的JohnB.Dodd夫人，便首次提出父亲节的想法。

当时，她希望有一个特别的日子，来向她的父亲WilliamSmart先生表达敬意。WilliamSmart先生是一个参加过南北战争的老兵。他的妻子，也就是JohnB.Dodd夫人的母亲，在生第六个孩子时不幸去世。WilliamSmart先生自此成了鳏夫。在华盛顿东部的一个乡村农场中，他独自一人抚养大了这个新生儿和其他五个孩子。

直到成年以后，JohnB.Dodd夫人才意识到，她的父亲在养育儿女的过程中所付出的坚强和无私。于是给当地一家教士协会写信，建议把6 月的第三个星期日定为父亲节。该协会将建议提交会员讨论，获得了通过。1910年6月19日，华盛顿Spokane镇的人们庆祝了首个父亲节。当时，凡是父亲已故的人都佩戴一朵白玫瑰，父亲在世的人则佩戴红玫瑰。这种习俗一直流传至今。但是开始时父亲节的日期各不相同，而且有的地方用蒲公英作为父亲节的象征，有的地方则用衬有一片绿叶的白丁香作为父亲节的象征。直到1924年，在美国总统CalvinCoolidge的支持下，父亲节成为全国性的节日。1966年，LyndonJohnson总统签署总统令，宣布将每年6月的第3个星期天定为父亲节。

后来，全世界有二十多个国家通过教堂仪式、送卡和礼物来纪念父亲节。每年全美国要在五千六百万令人尊敬的父亲们身上花去十多亿美元礼品费，但在礼品的种类上除了一些男性用户外就很少了。其实父亲节只是一个节日而已，更重要的是它提醒人们要关注父亲曾给过我们的爱，曾带我们一起有过的路，母亲是伟大的，父亲也一样，有空了，记得回家陪陪您的双亲，亲情永远是我们的情感中最重要的一部分。

BY GLADYS POLLACK

Back in 1909, a Spokane, Washington, woman wanted to honour her widowed father’s selflessness and strength in raising his six children as a single parent. Her efforts led to the observation of the first Father’s Day on June 19, 1910. Today, as a result of the efforts of Sonora Smart Dodd, on the third Sunday in June, we pay tribute to our dads.

We have all witnessed the changes that have taken place in family structure: the transition from Mom and Dad raising children together to the fast-growing phenomenon of the single-parent family(单亲家庭). For example, in 1996 in Canada, there were 945,000 female-headed single-parent families, representing 18 percent of all families, almost double the figure of 1971, when ten percent of families with children were headed by a single, female parent. Yet, whether dad is living with his children or is an absent father with visiting rights, research shows that his role is vital in the nurturing and upbringing of the children.

Many studies have noted the negative effects of fatherlessness: Children run a significantly greater risk for drug and alcohol abuse(吸毒和酗酒), are more likely to have emotional and behavioural problems, drop out of school or get into trouble with the law. But more and more, research is also demonstrating the positive side of a father’s nurturing presence. A U.S. Department of Education study demonstrated that when dad takes an active role in school activities, children's grades improve, there’s a decreased likelihood of repeating a grade(留级) or getting expelled or suspended, and participation in extracurricular activities increases. The kids actually enjoy school more.

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore concluded after examining 855 six-year-olds that children who have fathers in their lives learn better, have higher self-esteem and show fewer signs of depression than children without fathers. The findings applied equally to boys and girls, as well as to children involved with a biological father or a “father figure.”

Delegates to the 2002 meeting of the American Research Association heard that when fathers talk with kids daily, reading and math scores on achievement tests are higher. “When fathers become involved in a cognitive dimension of their children’s education, it can negate such barriers as limited resources in both schools and families,“ Brent A. McBride, a professor of human and community development, told the assembly.

Positive benefits of fathers’ involvement begins early on(在早期). So notes a fact sheet(情况说明书) on the importance of fathers issued by Ohio State University. Infants whose fathers were closely involved in their care were found to be more cognitively developed at one year of age than those infants with less-involved fathers. The benefit seems to last as long as Dad stays involved. A study of 30,000 high school seniors found that 85 percent of “A” students had fathers who closely watched how their children were doing in school. Another possible benefit: Resilient(有复原力的;弹回的) children, those able to bounce back from trauma(精神上的创伤;身体上的伤) or serious problems, tended to come from families where they are emotionally supported by both parents.

The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 1990 published the results of a study that followed 379 individuals over a 26-year period. The researchers found that the single most important childhood factor in developing empathy is paternal involvement. Fathers who did such routine tasks as childcare at least two times a week, raised children who were the most compassionate adults.

So how do you become the best dad you can be? The University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Theology and Public Issues interviewed children as to what they needed from fathers. The answers were: a role model(行为榜样); quality time; supportive behaviour; expressions of love; physical contact.