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History of Father's Day

It would be interesting to know how Father's Day came into practice and celebrated worldwide with an equal sincerity and respect as any other significant holidays. Here's a short history on the holiday, and meaning of the different colors of roses to be worn that Day. Get to know what are the truest reasons associated for the celebration of this special celebration. You may even refer the page to others to share the information by clicking on the link given below. Learn about why this special day is observed and the true cause of the celebration.

Father's Day History

Father's Day is a holiday that celebrates fathers and fatherhood, as well as paternal bonds and the influence of fathers in society. The holiday is celebrated on different dates around the world, but it is commonly observed on the third Sunday in June in many countries.

The history of Father's Day can be traced back to the early 20th century in the United States. The first Father's Day was celebrated in 1910 in Spokane, Washington, by a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd, who wanted to honor her father, a Civil War veteran and single father who raised six children. Father's Day became an official holiday in the United States in 1972, when President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation recognizing the day.

Today, Father's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, with traditions and customs varying depending on the country. In many countries, the day is celebrated with gifts, cards, and special meals for fathers and paternal figures. Father's Day has also become a commercialized holiday, with retailers promoting gift ideas for dads. However, the true meaning of Father's Day remains an opportunity to show appreciation for the important role that fathers play in our lives and to honor their contributions to their families and society.

father's day history

There are many theories associated with the observance of Father’s Day; the two theories which are quite known prevalent for the celebration of the first Father's Day celebration in the United States are as stated. The first theory to regarding the celebration of Father's Day was established on June 19, 1908 in the State of Washington when an independent celebration of Father's Day, a few weeks later, took place on 5th July, 1908 in Fairmont, West Virginia.

Hence the first Father's Day was recognized in West Virginia, while a church service was going on at Williams Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South. Grace Golden Clayton, who reportedly suggested the service to the pastor at Williams Memorial, is said to have been inspired to celebrate fathers post a mine explosion, a few months before, in the nearby community of Monongah. This explosion ended 361 lives, many of them fathers and recent immigrants to the States from Italy.

Another influencing force which further reinforced the establishment of Father's Day was that of Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd. Dodd thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Having been raised by her father, Henry Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Hence, since Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane in June. Although she initially thought of celebrating Father's Day on June 5 in Spokane (which was her father's birthday), the other people involved did not agree they would have enough time for an appropriate celebration. Thus, the first Father's Day was held instead on the third Sunday in the month of June. The first June Father's Day was celebrated on 19th June, 1908, in Spokane, WA, at the Spokane YMCA. Politician and orator, William Jennings Bryan appreciated the concept immediately and began extending his support widely. Father's Day was then initiated by President Woodrow Wilson, who was the first U.S. President to celebrate it on June 1916, a party his family hosted. President Calvin Coolidge declared it a national holiday in 1924. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson, by official order, made Father's Day a holiday to be celebrated on the third Sunday of June. The holiday was not formally considered until 1972, when it was officially acknowledged by a Congressional Act setting it permanently on the third Sunday in June all over the nation.

A short history of Father's Day
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