History of Father's Day

Giving personalized Father's Day gifts is a1908, and this new holiday might also have been
thoughtful way to show your father that youan inspiration for a Father's Day.
care. You could surprise him with a Father's DayThe first time Father's Day was held in the month
gift basket that is filled with all of his favorites.of June was due to the efforts of Mrs. Sonora
This year find the perfect Father's Day gift in aSmart Dodd, from Washington State. Her Civil
gift basket customized just for him. For anyWar veteran father, William Jackson Smart, had
special man in your life, whether it is your Dad, orraised his six children as a single parent after his
your brother or husband who is a father, you willwife and their mother had died. Inspired by Anna
want to remember him on this day that is setJarvis, the instigator of Mother's Day, Mrs. Dodd
aside to honor all that he does for his family.held the first Father's Day in June, the month her
Although Father's Day is celebrated on differentfather had died, on June 19, 1910 in Spokane,
days and months of the year depending on whichWashington.
country you are in, in the United States Father'sPolitically speaking, it took quite a few years
Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in Junebefore Father's Day became an official national
every year. The first time the holiday washoliday. Presidents Woodrow Wilson celebrated the
celebrated was on July 5th, however, in 1908, asoccasion with his family in 1916, and Calvin
the theme for a church service in Fairmont, WestCoolidge made a recommendation that it become
Virginia. A year earlier there had been a minea national holiday in 1924. Father's Day was made
explosion that had killed 361 men, many of whominto a holiday that would occur on the third
were fathers, and so a special service topic wasSunday of June by Lyndon Johnson, and it was
employed. Mother's Day had begun to befinally recognized as an official holiday by Richard
celebrated in nearby Grafton, West Virginia, also inNixon in 1972.