When Was The First Father’s Day?

Father’s Day 2021 falls on the 20^th June, and hopefully families up and down the country will be able to see their loved ones this year, as we pray the lockdown easing continues as planned. The celebration of dads is a tradition which falls on the third Sunday in June in the UK. But why is this the case?

Father’s Day as we know it in the UK originated in America, and was first marked on 5 July 1908 in West Virginia. The occasion is thought to be inspired by the death of Grace Clayton’s father in a mining accident. A lady called Sonora Dodd then took up the mantle a couple of years later, organising celebrations in churches across Washington in the month of June.

However, Father’s Day was not officially recognised until 1966, when President Lyndon Johnson designated it, and the event was signed into law as a national holiday six years later by president Richard Nixon. The third Sunday of June is now a date marked by many countries around the world, although some have separate traditions.

In many Catholic countries such as Spain and Italy, Father’s Day has religious origins which are thought to date back to the Middle Ages. They recognise the occasion on March 19, the Feast of St Joseph, to celebrate the legal father of Jesus. Germans celebrate dads on Ascension Day in May or June, and Aussies and Kiwis on the first Sunday in September.

If you want to buy something special for a dad in your life this June, there’s plenty of inspiration to be found online! Maybe go for a unique personalised gift, such as a photo of loved ones or a favourite pet printed on a mug, keyring or phone case. You could even go with a humorous quote— after all, who doesn’t have a few good dad jokes up their sleeve?

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