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ALL ABOUT
FATHER'S DAY
Mother's Day came first, but Father's Day wasn't too far behind. It's amazing
what people accomplish when they put their minds to good use and encourage
others to join their cause. It just wouldn't be the same without many of our
holidays and Father's Day is one of them.
WHO CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF FATHER'S DAY?
The actual beginnings of Father's Day are rather sketchy, and there are several
stories of how this holiday started. While these are considered to be true,
probably the most common and widespread story is that the June holiday that is
known today as Father's Day is said to have started growing its roots in the
year of 1909.
At that time, a woman by the name of Mrs. John B. Dodds, who lived in Spokane,
Washington, campaigned for a Father's Day celebration. Her interest in having an
organized holiday for fathers was sparked after she heard a church sermon on the
virtues of Mother's Day. The sermon reminded Mrs. Dodds about her childhood
years, when her mother had passed away while in childbirth with her sixth child.
Mrs. Dodds' father, William Smart, who was a veteran of the Civil War, was then
left to carry on as both father and mother to the newborn baby and their five
other children. With medical doctors being in short supply, and medicine being
in just its early stages of development, many women died while giving birth to
their babies. It was simply, at that time, a hazard of the effort to bring forth
new life onto the earth.
And when Mrs. Dodds thought of her father, who acted as both father and mother,
and nurtured and cared for her and her siblings, as well as the other fathers
who selflessly gave of themselves to help take care of their own children, as
well as provide for them financially too. So, she decided that they all should
be honored with a special day all their own. She campaigned and worked to spread
her message, and even got the help of friends and family to write letters to
influential people who could make this dream happen for her. And, finally, after
much hard work and determination, a local celebration was finally proclaimed in
the year of 1910. Mrs. Dodds wanted the date of the holiday to be on her
father's birthday, which was the fifth of June, but the festivities had to be
moved to the nineteenth of June so there would be enough time to prepare.
Eventually, annual celebrations blossomed throughout the United States and
Canada, but it wasn't until 1972, when Richard M. Nixon signed a congressional
resolution that Father's Day became established. Finally, over sixty years
later, after it was first campaigned for, Father's Day was officially
established as being celebrated on the third Sunday of every June. And, fathers
across the United States finally gained their day to be honored and given cards,
gifts, hugs and kisses to.
With the transformation of the American family throughout the years, this
holiday was expanded to include honoring not only fathers, but also stepfathers,
uncles, grandfathers, guys that act as big brothers, and any other males that
have played the father role model in someone's life.
WHEN DID THE UNITED STATES BEGIN CELEBRATING
FATHER'S DAY?
1910 Spokane, Washington celebrates Father's Day.
1924 President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as Father's
Day.
1926 The formation of National Father's Day Committee in New York City.
1956 Father's Day was recognized by Joint Resolution of Congress.
1966 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring
that the third Sunday of June as Father's Day.
1972 President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of
Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday in June.
DO OTHER COUNTRIES CELEBRATE FATHER'S DAY?
Father's Day is celebrated in every part of the world. In the United States,
Canada and most countries in Asia, Father's Day is celebrated on the third
Sunday in June.
HOW CAN I MAKE THIS FATHER'S DAY SPECIAL FOR MY
FATHER?
There are all kinds of things you can do to make Father's Day special for your
dad. Here are a few suggestions:
Make dad breakfast in bed.
Send him flowers, the red rose is the official Father's Day flower.
Do secret acts of kindness, this might include doing one of dad's chores for
him, like taking out the garbage :)
Be obedient.
Do your chores, without being asked.
Get along with your brothers and sisters.
Make or take him out to dinner.
Send him an on-line greeting card.
Use our printables to make a heartfeltCARD.
Check out some great ideas to make dad a homemadeGIFT.
SPICE UP THE FATHER'S DAY FESTIVITIES WITH AN
ACTIVITY OR TWO.
Interview your father and/or grandfather. Ask questions about his birth,
childhood, and what he did when he was a teenager. Find out favorite subjects in
school, how he met your mother or grandmother. Inquire about his favorite job.
End the interview by expressing your love for him.
Get together with a few other families and play the Father/Child Game. Divide
into four father/child teams. Ask the fathers to leave the room while the
children sit in chairs. Ask the same four or five questions to each child about
their fathers. Bring in the fathers and ask them the same questions. Will the
father and child have the same answers? Switch places and see how well the
father's know the children. Award a red rose to the winning father/child team.
Question Ideas: Favorite color, movie, candy bar, color of toothbrush, memorable
moment with you, best friend, hobby, talent, food, animal, cartoon, pizza
topping, ice cream topping, restaurant. Most embarrassing moment. Favorite
holiday.
Have a Father's Day BBQ or picnic. Make a crown for dad and let him know he's
"King" for the day. This can be a family activity or extend an invitation to a
few other families also. Make sure all the dad's are given "Royal Treatment".
FATHER'S DAY GREETING CARDS
Greeting cards for fathers were originally home made and personalized. Now,
there are many card companies that mass produce Father's Day cards every year.
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