Father’s Day

Father’s Day, holiday in honor of fathers that is celebrated in many countries around the world. It originated in the United States, and credit for the holiday is generally given to Sonora Smart Dodd. Dodd’s father, a Civil War veteran, raised her and her five siblings after their mother died in childbirth. The first Father’s Day was held on June 19, 1910, the month of the birthday of Dodd’s father. It became a U.S. national holiday in 1972, when Pres. Richard Nixon signed legislation designating the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day. It is celebrated with cards, gifts, and family meals, among other activities.

While many other countries also celebrate the holiday on the third Sunday of June, some mark the observance at other times of the year. Notably, a number of Catholic countries celebrate it on March 19, the feast day of St. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus.

Origins

In 1908 a service to honor fathers took place in Fairmont, West Virginia, following the Monongah mining disaster. It was organized by Grace Golden Clayton, whose father was killed in the accident. She asked that a special church service be held to commemorate her father and others who had died. While some consider this to be the first Father’s Day service, the event garnered little attention outside Fairmont, and it was not held the following year.

Sonora Smart Dodd in Spokane, Washington, also decided to hold a service for Father’s Day. She came up with the idea in 1909 while listening to a sermon on Mother’s Day. Local religious leaders supported Dodd’s idea, and the first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, the month of the birthday of Dodd’s father. However, the holiday met some resistance, particularly from men who questioned the “manliness” of an event connected to Mother’s Day and flowers. Others saw it as a “commercial gimmick.” Nevertheless, the holiday began to spread across the country. In 1924 U.S. Pres. Calvin Coolidge gave his support to the observance, and in 1966 Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson issued a proclamation that recognized the day. In 1972 Father’s Day became a national holiday.

Traditions

Although it was originally largely a religious holiday, Father’s Day has been commercialized with the sending of greeting cards and the giving of gifts. In addition, family meals are often held. Some observe the custom of wearing a red rose to indicate that one’s father is living or a white rose to indicate that he is deceased. Other males—for example, grandfathers or uncles who have assumed parenting roles—are often also honored on the day.