Father’s Day 2024: Origin, history and everything you should know about this day
Father’s Day, marking Sunday, June 16, 2024, is approaching fast! Delve into inspiring quotes for your card, explore delightful recipes, and discover engaging activities to celebrate. Uncover the touching tale behind the creation of Father’s Day, a story filled with significance and emotion.
Why We Celebrate Father’s Day
Father’s Day is a special occasion dedicated to celebrating and honoring the invaluable contributions of men who have embraced the vital role of fatherhood. It’s a day to express gratitude towards fathers and father figures, including uncles and grandfathers, for the sacrifices they make, their commitment to nurturing and guiding children, and their unwavering devotion to their families.
When is Father’s Day?
Father’s Day is observed every year on the third Sunday of June in various countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India, and several others globally.
2025- Sunday, June 15
2026- Sunday, June 21
2027- Sunday, June 20
Many countries celebrate this holiday at other times of the year. In Australia, for example, Father’s Day is held on the first Sunday of September; in Norway, Sweden, and Finland, on the second Sunday in November; and in some Catholic countries, on March 19 (St. Joseph’s Day).
Who “Invented” Father’s Day?
Much like the origins of Mother’s Day, the history of Father’s Day in America extends far beyond just cards and gifts.
The inaugural Father’s Day observance took place in Fairmont, West Virginia, on July 5, 1908, following a devastating mining accident that claimed the lives of hundreds of men.
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Grace Golden Clayton, daughter of a respected reverend, spearheaded the Sunday service to commemorate not only her own late father, but also the countless fathers lost in the tragic explosion, which orphaned around 1,000 children.
Despite being the first of its kind, the Fairmont service didn’t become an annual tradition, overshadowed by other events like a July 4 celebration and a sorrowful death from typhoid fever making headlines at the time.
Father’s Day Gains Momentum
Throughout the years, numerous individuals across the nation toyed with similar ideas, but it was Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd who rose to prominence, spearheading the movement that eventually led to the establishment of Father’s Day as a U.S. national holiday.
Her journey began during a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909 when Mrs. Dodd, inspired by her father William Smart’s remarkable feat of raising six children single-handedly on their Washington farm, envisioned honoring fathers as well. Proposing the idea to the Spokane Ministerial Association and the YMCA, she suggested celebrating a “father’s day” on June 5th, her father’s birthday.
Although met with enthusiasm, the ministers requested a change of date to allow ample time for crafting sermons on this novel topic. Consequently, the inaugural Father’s Day in Spokane took place on June 19, 1910, becoming an annual tradition. Soon, other communities followed suit with their own festivities.
Despite widespread acclaim, Father’s Day didn’t achieve national holiday status for many years. It wasn’t until 1972, when President Richard Nixon signed a law, officially designating the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day, that it became a permanent fixture on the calendar.
The delayed recognition of Father’s Day as a national holiday, unlike the rapid embrace of Mother’s Day, prompts curiosity about the full history behind its journey to legislative acknowledgment.
