Today the world observes Father's Day. The holiday was created to honour dads, father figures and paternal bonds. Many often overlook the sacrifices and contributions their fathers and male figures have made in their lives. Father’s Day allows us to express our love and gratitude to these individuals.
So what is the origin of Father's Day? Here's a brief history:
Father's Day began in the United States first, and then it spread across the globe. The first Father's Day was celebrated in 1910, but it took a few decades for it to become official.
The holiday piggybacked off Mother's Day, which became a commercial holiday in 1908. By 1914, Mother's Day was made official by President Wilson, who declared the second Sunday of May would be dedicated to honouring mothers. Yet, the US was slower to honour fathers on a particular day. However in 1916, Wilson recognised Father's Day, and in 1924, President Coolidge urged states to observe the holiday.
Finally, in 1966, President Johnson made the first presidential proclamation that honoured fathers, establishing the third Sunday in June as Father's Day.
Father's Day was founded in Spokane, Washington, at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd. Its first celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on the 19th of June, 1910. Her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, was a single parent. When Sonora was 16, her mother died in childbirth with her sixth child. Sonora was the only daughter and helped raise her younger brothers. After hearing a sermon about Mother's Day at Central Methodist Episcopal Church in 1909, she told her pastor that fathers should have a similar holiday honouring them.
In 1910, she brought a petition before the Spokane Ministerial Alliance to recognise "the courage and devotion of all fathers" on the 5th of June, her dad’s birthday. As noted by History.com, the local clergy liked the idea of a special Father’s Day service, but couldn’t pull something together so quickly, so they settled for the third Sunday in June.
Father’s Day is celebrated worldwide to recognise the contribution that fathers and father figures make to the lives of their children. In some countries, particularly in Europe and Latin America, fathers are honoured on St. Joseph’s Day, a traditional Catholic holiday that falls on the 19th of March.
Finding things to do for Father’s Day can be difficult. If you’re having a difficult time thinking of what to do to make this day special or what types of activities your father (or father figure) might like, try participating in his favourite hobby. If your dad loves cooking, hiking, working with his hands or watching movies, devote time during the day to do things with him. He’ll enjoy doing what he loves, and he’ll love it even more because you’re spending quality time together.
Father's Day is also a day to remember and honour fathers that have passed on. Many choose this day to visit their father's or grandfathers' final resting place.
A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets of our society. - Billy Graham.
Fathers, like mothers, are pillars in the development of a child's emotional well-being. Children look to their fathers to set rules and enforce them. They also look to their fathers to provide a sense of security, both physical and emotional. Children whose fathers are involved in their daily care, tend to be more confident and, enjoy stronger social connections, as they grow older. An involved father promotes inner growth and strength.
Mother's Day is a cherished date in the yearly calendar. I encourage all to give equal importance to Father’s Day.
Happy Father's Day to all Dads!
Talk soon,
