1909 Spokane Washington, a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd, whose father was a Civil War veteran, raise her and her five siblings after her mother dies in childbirth. The idea came to her in 1909 while attending a Mother’s Day sermon in church. She thought her father should have a similar church service to honor her father. She went to local churches, the YMCA, and shopkeepers to drum up support for her idea. Local religious leaders supported the idea, so she was successful: Washington state celebrated the nation’s first statewide Father’s Day on June 19th, 1910, because her father’s birthday was in June. In 1924 U.S. President Calvin Coolidge gave his support to the observation and in 1966 President Lyndon B Johnson issued A proclamation that recognized the day, and it became a national holiday in 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed legislation designated the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day.

It was originally largely a religious holiday; Father’s Day has been commercialized with sending greeting cards and giving gifts. Some observe the custom of wearing a red rose to indicate that one’s father is living or a White Rose to indicate that he is deceased. Other males for example grandfathers or uncles who have assumed parenting roles have also often been honored on the same day this year we celebrate Father’s Day on June 16th, 2024.

It’s almost like Father’s Day is half Mother’s Day because of its origin and start now here’s a good question who remembers how Mother’s Day started? Here’s a hint North and South. So have fun remembering your father’s and try to remember the origin of Mother’s Day.