Father's Day

Held on 19th June 2022 (3rd Sunday of June)

Father’s Day is celebrated worldwide to recognize the contribution that fathers and father figures make to the lives of their children. This day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting. Although it is celebrated on a variety of dates worldwide, many countries observe this day on the third Sunday in June. The first observance of Father's Day is believed to have been held on July 5, 1908 in a church located in Fairmont, West Virginia, by Dr. Robert Webb of West Virginia at the Central United Methodist Church of Fairmont. Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd of Washington thought independently of the holiday one Sunday in 1909 while listening to a Mother's Day sermon at the Central Methodist Episcopal Church at Spokane and she arranged a tribute for her father in June 19, 1910. She was the first to solicit the idea of having an official Father's Day observance to honour all fathers.

It took many years to make the holiday official. Father's Day was met with laughter and it was the target of much satire, parody and derision. Many people saw it as just the first step in filling the calendar with mindless promotions like "Grandparents' Day", "Professional Secretaries' Day", etc. all the way down to "National Clean Your Desk Day". However, a bill was introduced in 1913, US President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea in 1924 and a national committee was formed in the 1930s by trade groups in order to legitimize the holiday.

Father's Day typically involves gift-giving, and special dinners to fathers and family-oriented activities. Many people make a special effort for their fathers or father figures. Some people visit their fathers, while others give cards, flowers or other gifts, such as clothing or sporting equipment, or luxury food items. Father's Day is a relatively modern holiday, so different families have different traditions. These can range from a simple phone call or greetings card to large parties honouring all father figures in an extended family. Father figures can include fathers, step-fathers, father-in-laws, grandfathers, great-grandfathers and even other male relatives.

Holiday Status - It is not a Holiday