Father’s Day, a holiday that honors fathers worldwide, is celebrated in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and most countries worldwide on the third Sunday of June.
In Australia and New Zealand, it’s celebrated on the first Sunday in September. Father’s Day is celebrated in other countries on other dates.
Background of Father’s Day
The history of Father’s Day dates back to 1910 in the U.S, a few years after the country began celebrating Mother’s Day. The idea of creating a day to honor fathers began in Spokane, Washington.
Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909. The message inspired her to have a special day dedicated to her father, William Jackson Smart. William was a Civil War veteran who brought her and her siblings up as a single parent after their mother died.
Sonora wanted to recognize her father for his specialness and the role he played in her life. She wanted to honor her father’s sacrifices, selflessness, and the love he showed for his children.
To pay tribute to her great-grandfather, Sonora held the first Father’s Day celebration on June 19, 1910, her great-grandfather’s birthday. Sonora was the first to promote the idea of having an official Father’s Day observance.
Unlike Mother’s Day, which was readily accepted, Father’s Day was received with joking and mockery. Though the day was slowly gaining attention, it was mainly for the wrong reasons.
Jokes, satire, and parody were the main themes commemorated on the day. Many people saw it as the first step in filling the calendar with mindless promotions. They should see our calendar today – “Drinking Straw Day,” “I Love My Dentist Day,” and my favorite, “National Donut Day”! 😀
In 1913, a bill was introduced to make the day an official holiday. The idea was approved by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916.
In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge endorsed the idea, lending it additional momentum. The National Father’s Day Committee was formed in New York City in 1926.
Thirty years later, a Joint Resolution of Congress gave recognition to Father’s Day in 1966. Another 16 years passed before President Richard Nixon, in 1972, established the third Sunday of June as a permanent national observance day of Father’s Day.
Sixty-two years passed between the first Father’s Day celebration and its recognition as an official holiday.
Thus, Father’s Day was born out of memory and appreciation by a daughter who believed that her father and all other fathers should be honored with a special day, just like Mother’s Day. The white and red roses were the official flowers for the Father’s Day celebration.
The white rose commemorated gratitude for a deceased father, and a red rose expressed thankfulness to one who was living.
Could you start making a list of the fathers and father figures you want to recognize on Father’s Day? Gifts are only one way to show you care on Father’s Day. There’s nothing like the sense of personal satisfaction you can gain from giving a thoughtful item to the most important man in your life.
Combining a gift with a day you’ve planned just for him will make the special father in your life feel much appreciated.
Click here to see great Father’s Day quotes perfect for your stepdad.
What a great resource!
Awesome article on the foundation of Father’s Day. June 19, 1910, wow 2016, 106 years later. Thanks for sharing.
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Gerardo