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Friends,
Father’s Day. A time to celebrate the men who helped raise us. A time to honor the men who have helped shape each and every one of us into the person we are now. But how did this holiday become a national celebration? The story might surprise you, along with the controversy surrounding it.
It actually started in 1908.
The first Father’s Day service was held at a church in Fairmont, West Virginia, on 5 July 1908. This was in response to the tragic outcome of an infamous mining disaster that killed hundreds of men.
Grace Golden Clayton, daughter of a well-respected minister, proposed establishing a memorial to commemorate all fathers, including those who had passed away. Surprisingly enough, this observance did not become a regular occurrence, and there was hardly any promotion for it; so, nobody outside the local area knew about it. On the other hand, unbeknownst to everyone else in the nation, another woman was inspired to recognize her father and others, too…
Inspired by Mother’s Day.
In 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd (Spokane, Washington) was inspired by the Mother’s Day sermon. Her father, William Jackson Smart, was a Civil War veteran, farmer, and a single parent to her and her five brothers. Her mother had died giving birth in 1898, and her father stepped up and played the role of both parents.
Originally, Sonora proposed 5 June, but the local ministers asked for it to be celebrated on the 3rd Sunday in June so they would have more time to prepare.
Becoming a National Holiday
The celebration was highly publicized, and word of the event reached Washington, D.C. The first bill was introduced in 1913, but unfortunately, even with President Wilson’s support, it did not pass.
8 years later, President Coolidge signed a resolution in support of Father’s Day,
to establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations.
In 1966, President Johnson signed an executive order designating the 3rd Sunday of June as Father’s Day. And finally, in 1972, under President Nixon, Congress passed the act making Father’s Day a national holiday.
Only 59 years! Not bad for the government.
The decision was based on the economy.
Surprise, surprise- the push to make it a national holiday was not based on appreciation for fathers, but rather on the economic climate. There were two key events that ensured Father’s Day was not left on the back burner:
The Great Depression: It was a hard time for the U.S., not a penny to spare, and the stores needed a reason to bring people in. Father’s Day was seen as a viable way to motivate families to spend money on dad, encouraging them to buy him new clothes or items he wouldn’t buy for himself. Typical gifts included traditional neckties and socks.
World War II: With so many men away fighting in the trenches, Father’s Day was seen as an opportunity to show support for men and to encourage people to donate to the war effort to ‘support’ their loved ones.
It was not a popular idea with the masses.
In the 20’s and 30’s, there was a movement to get rid of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and combine them into a collective Parents’ Day. Headed by Robert Spere, a children’s radio entertainer, the two celebrations were seen as a “division of respect and affection” for parents.
We should all have love for dad and mother every day, but Parents’ Day on the second Sunday in May is a reminder that both parents should be loved and respected together… Spere, The New York Times 1931.
The slogan for the new holiday was actually pretty catchy: “A kiss for mother, a hug for dad.”
Father’s Day is big business
In 2022, approximately $20 billion was spent on Father’s Day gifts, compared to $ 31.7 billion on Mother’s Day. But… interestingly, it is the 4th most popular day for greeting cards, with over 72 million cards sold each year. 15% of those are not for dads but husbands.
Traditionally, roses are the traditional gift- wearing a red rose means you have a living father, and a white one means your father has passed on.
It’s a worldwide celebration.
Historians agree that a tradition of celebrating and honoring fathers began thousands of years ago. A study shows that 4,000 years ago in Babylon, a son carved a special message for his father on a clay card. He wished his dad a long and healthy life. It is believed that several countries adopted this custom of celebrating Father’s Day
- 14 March– Iran
- 19 March– Bolivia, Honduras, Italy, Liechtenstein, Portugal, Spain
- 8 May– South Korea
- First Sunday in June– Lithuania
- Second Sunday in June– Austria, Ecuador, Belgium
- Third Sunday in June– Antigua, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Guyana, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Vincent, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Trinidad, Turkey, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Zimbabwe
- 17 June– El Salvador, Guatemala
- 23 June– Nicaragua, Poland, Uganda
- Second Sunday in July– Uruguay
- Last Sunday in July– Dominican Republic
- Second Sunday in August– Brazil
- 8 August– Taiwan, China
- 24 August– Argentina
- First Sunday in September– Australia, New Zealand
- New Moon of September– Nepal
- First Sunday in October– Luxembourg
- Second Sunday in November– Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden
- 5 December– Thailand
Final Thoughts
There you have it- a brief look into the history of Father’s Day. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to get ready to take my father out to lunch and give him the card I got for him.
Until next time, Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.
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