Father’s Day is June 15 this year and is meant to be an opportunity to celebrate fathers all over the world. Here are some fun facts about this holiday to share with your fathers and loved ones!
It may come as no surprise that Father’s Day was conceived to be a counterpart to Mother’s Day. The idea came to Sonora Smart Dodd, a resident of Spokane, Washington, when she attended a Mother’s Day sermon at her local church. This inspired her to work on establishing a day to celebrate her father and the other hard-working men in her community. She reached out to local businesses, government officials, and other community leaders, leading to the first statewide celebration of Father’s Day a year later in 1910.
Father’s Day became a national holiday in 1972. Although the holiday was recognized by many Presidents such as President Woodrow Wilson and President Calvin Coolidge, it was not a federally recognized holiday until a bit later. President Lyndon Johnson made a nationwide proclamation endorsing Father’s Day in 1966, and President Richard Nixon signed the holiday into law. Father’s Day is also celebrated internationally with different nations observing the holiday on different days.
Father’s Day has an official flower to celebrate the day. The first Father’s Day included a church service; it was here that daughters gave their fathers a red rose. Those whose fathers had already passed held white roses to honor them.
At one point, there were talks of Father’s Day and Mother’s Day combining into a single holiday: Parents’ Day. This occurred between the 1920’s and ‘30’s when a children’s radio host stated his belief that a “division of respect and affection”, saying that both parents should be loved and respected together. The movement, however, did not gain enough traction and died out in the 1940’s.
People all across the United States are expected to spend over $20 billion on gifts this Father’s Day. Some common gifts expected to be purchased include barbecue accessories, mugs, toolsets, and neck ties.
Source: Mentalfloss.com
