This is a day to celebrate fatherhood. Celebrated all over the world, this is a day for remembering, honoring and thanking your father. His physical presence in your life may not have been as constant as your mother’s; nevertheless, he was there when you gave your first shrill cry, announcing your arrival in this world, he was there when you took your first step, he was there when you cut your first tooth, he also spent his share of sleepless nights so that you could be comfortable... he was there for all your precious moments, the ones you recall and the ones that you do not. And you can count on him to be there whenever you next need him. Father’s Day is your chance to let him know how much you appreciate all that he’s done.
The idea of creating a day when children could express appreciation and gratitude to their fathers was born in Spokane, Washington. Sonora Smart Dodd, the eldest of six siblings was the daughter of William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran. He raised his children as a single parent after his wife died in childbirth. Sonora revered her father and wanted him to know how very special he was.
When Sonora was growing up, Mother’s Day was already an established date on the calendar. In 1909, when listening to a Mother’s Day sermon, the idea of Father’s Day took seed in her mind. She gradually gained support from the local community, and was able to realize her dream in June 1910. She initially suggested June 5 of that year for the establishment of Father’s Day as it was also the anniversary of her beloved father’s death. However, due to certain reasons, the celebrations could not be organized in time to meet the June 5 deadline. They finally took place on June19, 1910, which was her father’s birthday. Spokane, Washington, was the first city to celebrate Father’s Day.
Support for this celebration was good in the years to come. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge declared the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. The National Father’s Day committee was formed in New York in 1926. 1956 saw this day being recognized by a Joint Resolution of Congress. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson declared that the third Sunday of June would be celebrated as a Father’s Day holiday. The holiday was made official by President Richard Nixon in 1972. By the time Sonora Smart Dodd died in March 1978, her dream had been truly realized.
The official Father’s Day flower is the rose (red for living father and white for deceased).
The traditional gift is a necktie.
Here are a few ideas on how to celebrate Father’s Day and make it extra special for your dad:
- Surprise him with breakfast in bed.
- Make a card for him with your own hands.
- Give mom the day off and treat both your parents to a nice home cooked meal with your dad’s favorites on the menu.
- If he likes flowers, send him a whole bunch.
- Secretly do his chores for him and watch that look of surprise on his face!
- Write him a loving letter, telling him how much you care
