INQUISITR.COM / Health & Lifestyle

When Is Father’s Day 2017 And Who Started The Holiday?

By Charisse Van Horn
Published on: 18:12 PST, Jun 7, 2017

Father’s Day is observed on the third Sunday in June. This year, Father’s Day is celebrated on Sunday, June 18, 2017. The holiday is recognized as a time for honoring the men who have played father roles in our lives. Though it is named Father’s Day, many people celebrate other men on this holiday. Grandfathers, uncles, cousins and neighborhood friend are often recognized for their actions that have had a positive impact on someone’s life. There are many ways to celebrate Father’s Day and for many, the choice is based on personal preference. Many people recognize June as the month when Father’s Day occurs though they may be unaware of who started the holiday. Sonora Smart Dodd launched the movement for Father’s Day and is credited with the holiday.

Who Was Sonora Dodd?

Born Feb. 18, 1822, Sonora Louise Smart Dodd was the daughter of Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart. Smart was a single father of six children, following the death of his wife during childbirth. According to the United Methodist Church, when Sonora Dodd was 27-years-old, she attended a Spokane, Washington Mother’s Day church service in 1909. She realized that a similar holiday should be held to honor and recognize fathers like her own dad. Dodd began her movement to get Father’s Day recognized as a holiday similar to Mother’s Day. Sonora Dodd is considered the mother of Father’s Day.

When was the First Father’s Day?

After Sonora Dodd began the push to see Father’s Day recognized as a holiday, she approached the Spokane, Washington YMCA. Dodd had hoped that Father’s Day would be held on June 5, as that was her father’s birthday, but those at the YMCA felt the date was too close to Mother’s Day. Instead of June 5, they opted to hold Father’s Day on the third Sunday of June. The first Father’s Day celebration was held on June 19, 1910, approximately one year after Sonora Dodd sat in her first Mother’s Day service and was inspired to honor and recognize fathers nationwide for their accomplishments.

Is Father’s Day a National Holiday?

Though the first Father’s Day celebration took place on June 19, 1910, it was 58 years later before Father’s Day was recognized as a national holiday. The first presidential proclamation recognizing Father’s Day was issued by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966. In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed Father’s Day into law giving it legal recognition as a national holiday that is observed on the third Sunday each June.

Which Came First, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day?

Mother’s Day was the inspiration for Father’s Day and the holiday was established first. If it weren’t for Sonora Dodd attending the Mother’s Day service and feeling the loss of her own mother, she may never have been inspired to push for Father’s Day. As reported earlier by the Inquisitr, Anna Jarvis created Mother’s Day, but she lost faith in the holiday due to its commercialization.

Both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are viewed as similar and commercial holidays. They are both held on the third Sunday of May and June and are recognized by flowers. Carnations are flowers traditionally associated with Mother’s Day and red roses signify a living father and white roses represent a father who has passed away. Because gifts, cards, and flower sales create profits for retailers during May and June, the holidays are considered commercial. Some have questioned over the years if retail holidays are as important or as real as non-commercial holidays. Many holidays are considered times when retailers make a profit and businesses often tailor their themes to attract holiday shoppers. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are no exceptions.

How will you celebrate Father’s Day on June 18, 2017?

[Featured Image by RaZZeRs/Shutterstock]

Share this article: When Is Father’s Day 2017 And Who Started The Holiday?
Father's Day
More from Inquisitr