A Brief History of Father's Day

How much do you really know about Father's Day? A less-discussed counterpart to Mother's Day, the history of this holiday dates back to 1910 and is rooted in our neighbours to the south, the United States. On July 19^th of that year, the state of Washington's Governor recognized its very first occurrence.

It is considered to be inspired by Mother's Day, which became a commercial holiday in 1908. The first unofficial event to honour fathers was a sermon in memory of miners who perished in a mine explosion. It was held at a West Virginia church in the same year. In 1909, a Washington woman by the name of Sonora Dodd sought to establish it as an official holiday. She was only successful after much lobbying for support from local organizations, churches, shops and government workers.

The popularity of Father's Day grew and, in 1916, it was honoured by President Wilson who, from Washington, used telegraph signals to unfurl a flag in Spokane. Despite protesters throughout the 1920s and 1930s advocating for a more general “Parents' Day,” Father's Day was made a federal holiday in the United States in 1972.

In Canada, Father's Day falls on the third Sunday in June and, up here, it is not a federal public holiday. Despite this, it is a much-loved and celebrated occasion in Toronto and country-wide. If you haven't yet, check out our post offering great inspiration (link) for outings, events and gifts for Dad!  

Photo Credits: History.com & Nissat