Good morning, everyone! It’s a beautiful summer day (though a bit chilly here in Tennessee). As I sat on my porch, listening to dogs barking in the distance, I couldn’t help but reflect on the wonderful journey I’ve had with my wife and kids.
Tomorrow is Father’s Day, and when my wife asked me what I wanted for the occasion, I simply told her that all I wished for was the happiness of my family. I suggested that we go on a picnic or engage in some other fun activity to spend quality time together. However, this got me thinking about the tradition of giving presents to moms and dads on these special days. It’s a nice gesture, but how did it all start? Let’s delve into the history!
The origins of Mother’s Day can be traced back to the 1860s when a West Virginia town organized “Mother’s Work Days” to bring together mothers of Union and Confederate soldiers. However, it wasn’t until 1908 that Anna Jarvis, who wanted to honor her own mother by establishing Mother’s Day as a national holiday, inspired the John Wanamaker department store in Philadelphia to sponsor an event in their auditorium. Witnessing the event’s immense popularity, other retailers followed suit, and by the following year, 45 states were observing the day. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially designated the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day, a national holiday.
In 1909, a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd began advocating for the establishment of Father’s Day in Spokane, Washington. She achieved some success, and on June 19, 1910, Washington had its statewide celebration of Father’s Day. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge encouraged state governments to observe the holiday, but many men at the time ridiculed the idea. They believed it was an attempt to “domesticate manliness with flowers and gift-giving,” and they suspected that retailers were simply interested in boosting sales (often paid for by the fathers themselves). In the 1920s and 1930s, there was an effort to eliminate Mother’s Day and establish a single Parent’s Day to celebrate both parents. However, this attempt was halted by the Great Depression. When World War II began, retail companies declared Father’s Day as a way to honor the troops and support the war effort. From then on, although Father’s Day was not yet a federal holiday, it was celebrated nationally. Finally, in 1972, Richard Nixon signed a proclamation establishing Father’s Day as a federal holiday.
So, there you have it—the history of Father’s Day. Wait, “Dad’s Day” does sound quite catchy… I wonder how long it would take for… you know what, never mind. Have a fantastic day, everyone, and remember to express your gratitude to all the dads out there on their special day!
