Ladies, this is to all the wives and mothers that visit here and read my blog. This is also for you dads and husbands as well. Tomorrow is Father’s Day and if you’re like me, you may be wondering what the fuss is about. Is it another Hallmark holiday? Why are we choosing one day a year much as we do with Mother’s Day to honor the people in our lives we should honor each and every day?
Well, aren’t we lucky, I went to do a little research and here’s what I found out about the history of Father’s Day.
This is a day that has become a global symbol for expressing respect and love for the fathers in our lives. It’s important for children to take some time off to go and spend it with their fathers whether it’s taking them out fishing, taking them out to breakfast or hanging out to watch some ball on television (is there ball on TV right now?)
Not Just a Social Holiday
While we may label Father’s Day a social holiday, it actually has roots in the Roman Catholic tradition of Saint Joseph’s Day. That’s right, Saint Joseph, husband to Mary and foster or adopted father of Jesus. The feast of Saint Joseph honored his contributions as both a husband and father figure in helping to raise and love the child that would one day become a Savior to millions.
Socially speaking, the national day we currently celebrate can trace its roots back to one woman named Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd. Mrs. Dodd was one of six children raised by William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran and single father who concentrated on raising his children after the death of his wife.
Mrs. Dodd took her inspirations both from the work Anna Jarvis did in establishing Mother’s Day as well as from a sermon she listened to on Mother’s Day. Mrs. Dodd’s father was born in June, so June was the month she wanted to celebrate Father’s day.
The very first Father’s Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington on June 19, 1910. Later, Woodrow Wilson (yep, the one who was president) was honored by his family on Father’s Day in 1916. Calvin Coolidge (another president) recommended it as a national holiday eight years later in 1924. The first National Father’s Day committee was formed in New York City in 1926.
It wasn’t until 1966 that Lyndon B. Johnson (yes, for those keeping track, that’s another President) made it a holiday that was to be celebrated on the third Sunday of June and it was Nixon who made it an officially recognized holiday in 1972.
So, Father’s Day, like so many of our honored Fathers, Husbands, Sons and Brothers traveled a long way to become the year round Dad Fest that it is now. If you are looking for more information on Father’s Day, visit I-fathersday.com or check out some of our fantastic father’s day crafts, gifts and other ideas here at families.com.
Oh – and Happy Father’s Day!