Today, June 15, marks Father’s Day. So, it's the perfect time to look back at the origin, start, and significance of this heartfelt day, and also let’s discover which United States state hosted the first official Father's Day celebration and when.
In comparison to Mother’s Day, Father’s Day gained its significance through a slower, more complex journey. Initially, this event of honouring fathers took place on July 5, 1908, in a West Virginia church. This was held in honour of 362 men, out of whom most were fathers, who tragically died in a coal mine explosion in Monongah. Although it was an important day, this event didn’t turn into an annual tradition. It took the vision and persistence of one woman, named Sonora Smart Dodd, to give the holiday real momentum.
Check out: US Flag Day 2025: How Many Stars and Stripes are on the Flag? Check Its Meaning
Which U.S. State First Officially Celebrated Father’s Day?
The credit for the first statewide celebration of Father’s Day goes to Washington State. In 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, began campaigning for a holiday to honour fathers. She was raised by a single father, so she was deeply inspired by his dedication and wanted fathers should also receive the same appreciation as mothers.
With support from local churches, the YMCA, shopkeepers, and government officials, Washington State celebrated the first official Father’s Day on June 19, 1910.
From Local Observance to National Holiday
Though President Woodrow Wilson recognized the day with a symbolic flag unfurling in 1916, it took decades for Father's Day to receive federal acknowledgment. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge encouraged states to mark the occasion, but without making it a national holiday.
Interestingly, the holiday faced backlash. Many men viewed it as a sentimental or commercial ploy, and during the 1920s and 1930s, some activists even pushed to merge Mother’s and Father’s Day into a unified “Parents’ Day.”
However, the tide turned during the Great Depression and World War II, when Father’s Day was promoted as a way to honor men and boost morale. Businesses framed it as a "second Christmas for men," and the holiday slowly gained popularity.
It wasn't until 1972, under President Richard Nixon, that Father’s Day was officially declared a federal holiday, a full 58 years after Mother’s Day received similar recognition.
Why Is Father’s Day Celebrated On the Third Sunday in June?
Sonora Smart Dodd originally suggested June 5, her father’s birthday, as the date for Father’s Day. However, the date was moved to the third Sunday in June to give churches more time to prepare their sermons and to allow space between Mother’s Day and Father's Day.
Conclusion
So, as we honour our dads this June 15, let’s remember the long road that brought Father's Day into our calendars and homes and the important role that history, perseverance, and love played in making it happen.
Must read
When is Father’s Day 2025 in the US: Check Date, Origin and Facts You Need To Know
.jpg)
