What is Father’s Day, you may ask? Well, the idea of Father’s Day was conceived when Sonora Dodd, of Spokane Washington was listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909. She wanted a holiday to honor her father, William Smart, a Civil War widower who raised his six children on his own.
On June 19th, 1910 the first Father’s Day was celebrated in Spokane. This month was chosen because it was the birth month of William Smart. Father’s Day has been celebrated annually since 1972 when Richard Nixon signed a public law that made it permanent.
What it has come to mean to us today: Even though Father’s Day has been around since 1909 and some of the traditions have changed, the basic sentiments of this holiday are the same. At its heart, Father’s Day is about family, with the focus on dad. You can say “thanks” to your dad by making hand-made crafts, cards, his favorite meal or dessert, a photo album, or anything else that lets him know that he is appreciated. This holiday is not meant to be about extravagant gifts and cards, but about the paternal bonds between fathers and their sons and daughters.
When is it celebrated? Father’s Day is always celebrated on the third Sunday in June.
Quotes about Dad: “A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again.” — Enid Bagnold
“If the new American father feels bewildered and even defeated, let him take comfort from the fact that whatever he does in any fathering situation has a fifty percent chance of being right.” — Bill Cosby
“It doesn’t matter who my father was; it matters who I remember he was.” — Anne Sexton
Suggestions for things to do with/for Dad on Father’s Day:
- BBQ: What dad doesn’t like to play grill master while enjoying the outdoors with his family? Keep it simple and intimate with a backyard celebration of good food, and maybe toss a football or a Frisbee.
- Zoo: The zoo is another great place to take Dad on Father’s Day, whether you have a young family or the kids are a little older, you can never grow too old for some fun in the sun at the zoo!
- Baseball game: An all-American game of baseball is a sure way to please an athletic dad. You could even surprise dad with a screen printed baseball tee, or any other Father’s Day designs like these.
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