Origins: Father's Day

Father’s Day, as we know it today, has roots in both personal tribute and broader social movements, developing over the 20th century into a widely celebrated holiday that honours fathers and father figures.

The idea of a day specifically for fathers was first seriously proposed in the early 1900s in the United States. While Mother's Day had gained popularity by 1908, the notion of a similar celebration for fathers was still novel. The most widely accepted origin story involves a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd from Spokane, Washington.

Sonora was inspired by the newly established Mother’s Day and wanted to honour her own father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran and widower who raised six children on his own after the death of his wife during childbirth. Moved by his dedication and sacrifice, she proposed a day to celebrate fathers like him. She suggested June 5, her father's birthday, as the date. However, due to preparation time, the first official Father’s Day celebration in Spokane was held on June 19, 1910.

The idea gained some local support and slowly spread, though it did not receive immediate national attention. For decades, Father’s Day remained unofficial, often seen as less serious or more commercial than Mother’s Day. Efforts to formalize the day were supported by various presidents. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge encouraged state governments to observe the holiday, though he did not issue a national proclamation.

During the mid-20th century, retailers and manufacturers began promoting Father’s Day, especially in the clothing and tobacco industries, often focusing on items like ties, pipes, and tools. This commercial aspect gave the holiday a boost, even as it sparked criticism for being driven more by profit than sentiment.

It wasn’t until 1972 — more than 60 years after the first celebration — that President Richard Nixon signed a law officially making Father’s Day a permanent national holiday in the United States, to be observed on the third Sunday in June. By then, it was widely celebrated across North America and increasingly around the world.

In Canada, Father’s Day followed a similar trajectory, gaining popularity through cultural influence from the U.S. and media promotion. Today, it is observed in a comparable way — often with gifts, cards, family gatherings, and expressions of gratitude.

Father’s Day has evolved to celebrate not just biological fathers, but also stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, and father figures. In recent years, there has been a shift toward more emotional and inclusive observances, emphasizing love, mentorship, and appreciation over traditional masculinity or commercial gifts.

Though its origins are rooted in one daughter’s love for her father, Father’s Day has grown into a meaningful occasion for families around the world — a day to honour the contributions, sacrifices, and presence of fathers in all their forms.

Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model