Father’s Day is dedicated to all the fathers around the world. It could also be the day for you to show your love and reverence for the father figure in your life. This day celebrates the special bond you share with your dad. So your father deserves a special day meant just for him. Father’s Day is that one day.
It is celebrated across the world to honor fathers and fatherhood. The usual celebrations include flowers, cards and gifts.
Around the world this day maybe celebrated on different dates but the most popular date is the third Sunday of the month June.
Early History of Father’s Day: St Joseph’s Day
This day started as a celebration to honor Saint Joseph. In Catholicism he is referred to as the fatherly Nutritor Domini or “Nourisher of the Lord”) while in South Europe he is called “the putative father of Jesus”. The following variations can be seen:
Catholic Church: In Catholic Europe, the celebrations date back to the Middle Ages. It is still observed in many countries on the 19th of March every year. Spanish and Portuguese were the ones to take the tradition of Father’s Day to America and Latin America. The Catholic church has been actively supporting this custom due to the initiative of Franciscans since the late 14th century or early 15th century.
Coptic Church: They too celebrate in honor of Saint Joseph but the date is 20th of July. This celebration dates back to the fifth century.
Father’s Day Version In America: Beginning
Until the 20th century, Father’s Day was not observed in America outside the Catholic community. It started around the 20th century to complement Mother’s Day. Once Anna Jarvis Father’s Day was observed first on July 5, 1908 in the Williams Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South (Central United Methodist Church) situated in Fairmont of West Virginia. This happened
Grace Golden Clayton’s Verson:
In the December of 1907, Grace Golden Clayton’s father along with another 361 men died in the Monongah Mining Disaster. 250 of these men were fathers, leaving many children fatherless. Clayton then suggested this day be celebrated on July 5 to honor all the fathers who lost their life. This event failed to gain popularity outside Fairmont due to several reasons:
It was not promoted by the local city council or church
The Independence Day celebrations on 4th July overshadowed this event.
Another news that made headlines on 4th July was the death of 16 year old girl
Establishment of Father’s Day:
Finally on the 19th of June in the year 1990, Sonora Smart Dodd held another Father’s Day celebration to honor her father, William Jackson Smart who was a civil war veteran. Her father has been a single parent who did he best to give good upbringing to his 6 children. She heard a sermon about Mother’s Day started by Anna Jarvis in 1909 at Central Methodist Episcopal Church. She then suggested that a similar holiday be started for fathers. She has initially wanted the day to be celebrated on her father’s birthday, June 5, but as time was short so the date was pushed back to the third Sunday of June.
Successful establishment of Father’s Day
In 1920s Dodd went to study at the Art Institute of Chicago and the promotions of this special faded away. When she came back to Spokane in the 1930s, she took up the promotion and started creating national awareness about this holiday. With the backup of trade groups she was able to reinforce the commercial promotions for this holiday. The people of America were not ready to accept it as they saw it as an attempt to commercialize it as they had done so with Mother’s Day. After many failed attempts to pass a bill that nationally recognized this holiday, in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson was the first to issue a presidential proclamation that honored fathers by dedicating the third Sunday in June to the celebrations of Father’s Day. In 1972, six years later, it was declared as a holiday by a law passed by President Richard Nixon.
Variations of Father’s Day in Different Countries
Father’s Day is celebrated across some countries of the world on different dates. Here are some examples:
Like In Australia, it is celebrated on the first Sunday of Spring and is not a holiday. It usually falls in September.
Many countries like Finland and Estonia celebrate this day on their established flag day, on the second Sunday of November.
In Germany it is celebrated on the Thursday that falls forty days after Easter on Ascension Day.
In Russia instead of Father’s Day they celebrate Defender of the Fatherland.
Thailand has declared the date of their king’s birthday, 5th December as Father’s Day
In Nepal Father’s Day falls on the day of Gokarna Aunsi. It is usually falls at the end pf August or beginning of September. This depends on the lunar calendar.
Deduction of the spelling – “Father’s Day”
Various arguments about the placement of the apostrophe s can be found. The most widely accepted spelling has been Father’s Day due to the following reasons:
Though Dodd spelled it as Fathers’ Day in her original petition but the spelling “Father’s Day” was included in the first attempt to make this day a holiday in the year 1933 in the bill presented at the U.S. Congress.
Though fathers do not own this date but they definitely own the day so it is called Father’s Day as it signifies possession.
Finally this day is not meant to honor all the fathers in a collective group. Each individual celebrates this day in honor of their own father. Even the Oxford English Dictionary defines this day as “A day for recognition of the respect and gratitude felt by children toward their fathers.”
So the spelling that came to be widely accepted is Father’s Day.
Some Ideas to make Father’s Day Special
He has been there to teach you how to ride a bike, made you appreciate books as best friends, took you out for vacations – and much more. He has given you support and looked out for. Now it is your turn to make him happy. On Father’s Day bring a smile on his face. Here are some wishes, quotes and messages to help you do that. But before we talk about all that, let us tell you that time, attention and love are the best gifts for your dad any day of the year!
Father’s Day Wishes
Let these heartfelt Father’s day wishes convey the love you have for your father:
Dad you have always cared for us and given us your love. Thank you for loving us and we love you too. Happy Father’s Day!
Thanks for being my guide, friend and philosopher. You have been there for me. Love you Dad. Happy Father’s Day.
When I needed you to be my friend you acted like one. You were also strict when you needed to. Love for teaching me right from wrong. Happy Father’s Day!
Dad. Though I may not be there to celebrate this Father’s Day with you, but your guidance and love will always be with me. Enjoy this special day. Happy Father’s Day!
As I grew up I realized more and more what a great father you were. Love you Dad. Have a wonderful Father’s Day!
Your advice has helped make my life stable and full of success. Dad, you have accepted all my faults and made me better. Happy Father’s Day!
Father’s Day Quotes
These quotes that famous personalities have dedicated to fathers can help you express your feelings for your Father this Father’s Day:
Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad, and that’s why I call you dad, because you are so special to me. You taught me the game and you taught me how to play it right. Wade Boggs
I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection. Sigmund Freud
My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me. Jim Valvano
When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry. William Shakespeare
I try to live my life like my father lives his. He always takes care of everyone else first. He won’t even start eating until he’s sure everyone else in the family has started eating. Another thing: My dad never judges me by whether I win or lose. Ben Roethlisberger
My father was a man of love. He always loved me to death. He worked hard in the fields, but my father never hit me. Never. I don’t ever remember a really cross, unkind word from my father. Johnny Cash
Father’s Day Messages
Beautiful Father’s Day messages help you to make your father feel special and happy. Here are some Father’s Day messages:
Dad, you have always tried your best to teach me everything. Love you! Happy Father’s Day.
It was your encouragement and support that boosted my confidence and led me to success. Today, I want to thank you. Love you Dad. Happy Father’s Day!
Dad you were the greatest gift that God sent me. Have a wonderful Father’s Day.
Since childhood, you have taught me not to be afraid of monsters in my cupboard. We fought the monsters together. It also taught me never to fear failure. Love you Dad, the best teacher I could have had. Happy Father’s Day.
Happy Father’s Day for the one person who has made me laugh and wiped my tears when I was sad. Daddy, I will always be your little princess. Love you!
Daddy thank you for being my pillar of support whenever I needed. Love You. Happy Father’s Day!
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