June 17, 2021
Volume 51 - No. 24
By Friedrich Gomez
Just when you think you’ve heard it all, archeologists – literally – dig up something totally shocking and unexpected in time for this year’s Father’s Day!
And not surprisingly, readers of The Paper are among the very first to read about it! It seems in every conceivable way, dads never cease to astound, shock, and amaze us – just ask Bruce Jenner. THE ORIGINS OF “FATHER’S DAY” KEEPS CHANGING! As
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with good ol’ dad, the origins of Father’s Day seem to be getting older and older.
Less than a decade ago, Father’s Day was traced to the Middle Ages in Europe, giving it a pedigree that was well over 500 years old.
Then, just a few short years ago, science astounded the world again by stating that Father’s Day celebration roots were actually twice as old, reassessed at nearly 1,000 years deep into medieval times.
Then, in June of 2016, the science publication, Archeology, shocked the
entire world by announcing its discovery that Father’s Day was, once again, twice as old as previously thought – stating it was now 2,000 years old, with a genesis in Ancient Mesopotamia in Western Asia, where ancient clay tablets were unearthed, upon which words were chiseled, and deciphered from ancient cuneiform script.
It seemed apparent that the ‘expiration date’ on the true origins of Father’s Day was not aging gracefully like fine wine -- but rather curdling like milk – with a shorter and shorter ‘shelf life’ in our school and university history books!
Today, in 2021 – I can hear you snickering already in anticipation – the latest, most up-to-date theory is that good old Father’s Day is – yes, once again – twice as old as previously thought: not 2,000 years old . . . but at least 4,000 years old! The most recent 4,000-year-old discovery was made just 60 miles south of what is now present day Baghdad, Iraq (erstwhile Babylon).
The excavation site is near the Euphrates River and the handmade Father’s Day ‘card’ – once again chiseled on ancient clay tablets -- predates the birth of the historical Jesus by over
The 4000 year-old Father’s Day Card! Continued on Page 2
