The History of Father's Day

History of the Day

Fathers are the priceless gifts of undying love and support from God. Life would surely not seem so good if it wasn't for our dads. Here's a brief note on the interesting history of Father's day and how it all came into practice and celebrated now in various special ways all over the world. I'm sure you wouldn't like to miss out on this piece of valuable info and share it with others too. Click on the link at the bottom o the page to forward the page to others for free.

The idea of creating a day for children to honor their father began in Spokane, Washington US. Sonora Smart had introduced the thought while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Sonora Smart, along with her siblings was single-handedly raised by her father, William Jackson Smart after the death of her mother. In order to convey her love, appreciation and regards for her father she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910 as Sonora's father was born in June. 

President Calvin Coolidge, in 1924, supported the idea of a national Father's Day and The National Father's Day Committee was officially formed in New York City in 1926. A Joint Resolution of Congress recognized the Father's day in 1956 and in 1966 which finally made it permanent in 1972. President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. Thus, the Father's Day, bourne out of a daughter's love and respect for her father came into practice and eventually is celebrated across the world over in the recent times. However, the Father's Day celebrations take place at different times of the year.

Excerpt From www.TheHolidaySpot.com

There are many theories associated with the observance of Father’s Day; the two theories which are quite known prevalent for the celebration of the first Father's Day celebration in the United States are as stated. The first theory to regarding the celebration of Father's Day was established on June 19, 1908 in the State of Washington when an independent celebration of Father's Day, a few weeks later, took place on 5th July, 1908 in Fairmont, West Virginia.

Hence the first Father's Day was recognized in West Virginia, while a church service was going on at Williams Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South. Grace Golden Clayton, who reportedly suggested the service to the pastor at Williams Memorial, is said to have been inspired to celebrate fathers post a mine explosion, a few months before, in the nearby community of Monongah. This explosion ended 361 lives, many of them fathers and recent immigrants to the States from Italy.

Another influencing force which further reinforced the establishment of Father's Day was that of Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd. Dodd thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Having been raised by her father, Henry Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Hence, since Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane in June. Although she initially thought of celebrating Father's Day on June 5 in Spokane (which was her father's birthday), the other people involved did not agree they would have enough time for an appropriate celebration. Thus, the first Father's Day was held instead on the third Sunday in the month of June. The first June Father's Day was celebrated on 19th June, 1908, in Spokane, WA, at the Spokane YMCA. Politician and orator, William Jennings Bryan appreciated the concept immediately and began extending his support widely. Father's Day was then initiated by President Woodrow Wilson, who was the first U.S. President to celebrate it on June 1916, a party his family hosted. President Calvin Coolidge declared it a national holiday in 1924. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson, by official order, made Father's Day a holiday to be celebrated on the third Sunday of June. The holiday was not formally considered until 1972, when it was officially acknowledged by a Congressional Act setting it permanently on the third Sunday in June all over the nation.