Father’s Day 2023: Why is this day celebrated? Know its significance and history

'A father is someone you look up to no matter how tall you grow'

Father's Day is a special occasion that is widely celebrated to honour the love and dedication of fathers all around the world. Every year Father's Day falls on the third Sunday of June. And, this year it will be celebrated on 18th June.

This day serves as a reminder to acknowledge the love, guidance, and sacrifices of dads. On this day, children and families express gratitude through heartfelt gestures, gifts, and spend quality time together.

History

The exact origin of the holiday is attributed to different individuals and events. Many stories around this day are circulated during this time of the year. However, we bring you a brief overview of one of the stories from the history of Father's Day.

Sonora Smart Dodd

The modern concept of Father's Day is often credited to Sonora Smart Dodd, an American woman from Spokane, Washington. In 1909, she suggested a day to honor fathers.
Dodd's inspiration came from hearing a Mother's Day sermon, which made her think of her own father, a Civil War veteran who had single-handedly raised six children after his wife's death.
She proposed June 5th, her father's birthday, as the date for the observance. However, due to insufficient time for preparation, the first Father's Day celebration was postponed to June 19, 1910.

First Father's Day Celebration

The first official Father's Day celebration took place at the YMCA in Spokane, Washington on June 19, 1910. The idea gained popularity and gradually, other towns and cities in the United States of America began celebrating Father's Day.

National Recognition

In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge recommended that Father's Day become a national holiday, but it was not officially recognised as such. Attempts were made over the years to establish Father's Day as a national holiday, but they faced resistance and were often seen as a commercialised event.

Official Recognition

Finally, in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued a presidential proclamation designating the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed it into law, making Father's Day a permanent national holiday in the United States.

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