Father’s Day is a secular holiday celebrated in many countries to acknowledge the role of fathers. It is generally celebrated in summer months, with gifts and outings. In the US, it is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. It was officially declared a holiday in 1966 by President Lyndon Johnson.
Father’s Day is a holiday celebrated in many countries around the world. The intent is to celebrate fathers and fatherhood, acknowledging the role fathers play in many people’s lives. The precise history of Father’s Day varies from country to country, but it is generally celebrated in the summer months, commonly in June. Usually, family members give their fathers gifts, take them out to dinner, or acknowledge them in some other way.
As a general rule, Father’s Day is a secular holiday, although some religious leaders may incorporate fatherhood into their sermons. In heavily Catholic countries, Father’s Day is held on March 19, St. Joseph’s Day, although celebrations are not limited to Catholics. Some countries view the holiday as an opportunity for a picnic and outing, where celebrants load up parcels with an assortment of foods and spend the day in nature.
In the United States, along with many other nations, Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. The idea of a day to commemorate fathers originated in the mid-1800s, but the day varied from place to place. In 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd was listening to a Mother’s Day service at her church when his thoughts turned to his father, who raised his family alone after his mother died. He approached church officials about holding a similar service for fathers, and in 1910 the church celebrated Father’s Day in mid-June.
Support for Father’s Day grew across the United States and it was officially declared a holiday in 1966 by President Lyndon Johnson. In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed into law a bill decreeing the third Sunday in June for Father’s Day celebrations. Other nations around the world have set dates for Father’s Day that run from late February to November. In all countries that celebrate Father’s Day, the intent of the holiday remains the same.
While Father’s Day is meant to be a complement to Mother’s Day, the holiday is not as popular as Mother’s Day in most areas where it is celebrated. Family members certainly don’t spend as much money on Father’s Day as they do on other holidays, and people sometimes have a hard time finding appropriate gifts. Children who live with their fathers might consider preparing a special meal to honor their fathers, while fathers are usually happy to hear from children who live away from home, by phone call or letter.
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