Father’s Day

 

In the United States, Mother’s Day was celebrated before anyone thought of giving fathers their own special day. However, it didn’t take long for people to realize they should honor their fathers, also.

The Same Idea around the Same Time

Folks at the Central Church of Fairmont, West Virginia, held a service to honor fathers on July 5, 1908.

Mrs. John Bruce Dodd and her five brothers were raised by her father. She wanted to honor fathers everywhere. Thanks to her hard work, the whole state of Washington celebrated Father’s Day on July 19, 1910. Washington was the first to celebrate the day statewide.

A celebration honoring fathers was held in Vancouver, Washington in 1912.  Harry C. Meek spoke to Lions Clubs all over the United States to push the idea of Father’s Day. The Lions Clubs suggested the third Sunday in June.

Some Celebrated Parents’ Day

In the 1920s, some people thought that Mother’s Day and Father’s Day should become the same day, calling it Parents’ Day. When the Depression hit in the 1930s, stores advertised buying gifts for fathers on Father’s Day. They suggested buying ties, socks, hats, golf clubs, and greeting cards. This advertising pushed for the idea of honoring fathers on a separate day. By the end of World War II in 1945, Father’s Day was recognized as a special day.

A National Holiday

In 1972, President Richard Nixon designated Father’s Day as a national holiday to be celebrated on the third Sunday in June.

Although we love and honor our fathers throughout the year, Father’s Day is a special time to remind them how much they mean to us.

– Sandra Merville Hart

Sources:

Greif, Martin. The Holiday Book: America’s Festivals and Celebrations. The Main Street Press, 1978.

“Father’s Day.” A&E Television Networks LLC. 20 March 2013. http://www.history.com/topics/fathers-day.