Fathers Day Origins
Unlike Mother's Day, which has deeper historical roots in the UK, Father's Day is a more recent adoption. Here is a breakdown of its origins:
The concept of Father's Day likely arrived in the UK during the early 20th century, influenced by American celebrations. In the US, Sonora Smart Dodd proposed a similar day to honour fathers after hearing a sermon about Mother's Day. Her father, a Civil War veteran, had raised her and her siblings as a single parent. The first Father's Day celebration occurred in Spokane, Washington, on the third Sunday in June, her father's birthday month.
In 1972 President Richard Nixon signed legislation making Father's Day a national holiday in the United States, celebrated annually on the third Sunday in June. It provides a dedicated day to acknowledge the importance of fathers and father figures in children's lives. It complements Mother's Day, creating a balanced approach to celebrating parenthood within families.