If you consider Father’s Day to represent a frantic rush for the perfect present and a special day spent with dad, then the following five facts may just make you realise just how weird and wonderful history this day has.
- The very first Father’s Day was celebrated to honour a single father
Father’s Day is thought to have been created by Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd, an American lady who wanted to do something suitable to honour her father. Her dad was a war veteran and had quite impressively raised six children single handily. The original Father’s Day was celebrated all the way back on June 19th, 1910.
- In Germany, Father’s Day is a whole lot more raucous
In Germany, Father’s Day is a little livelier to say the least – men drink beer, sit in the garden and seemingly get themselves into trouble (national statistics show that this day is one of the busiest of all for the emergency services). Over there, the day is called either Vatertag (Father’s Day) or less frequently Männertag (or men’s day).
- Father’s Day only really took off after a couple of presidents became involved
The idea of Father’s Day didn’t really begin to take off until President Calvin Coolidge, in 1924, placed the occasion on national-event status. Some years later, President Lyndon B. Johnson would officially mark the third Sunday in June to be Father’s Day. The date would then become a national holiday six years later (although there’s sadly never been any mention of Father’s Day becoming a bank holiday in the UK).
- There’s a debate over who truly created Father’s Day
Whilst most historians recognise Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd as the creator of Father’s Day, this remains a bone of contention. Some argue that it was instead one Grace Golden Clayton, also from the US, who should claim the title, as she suggested creating a day for celebrating dads as far back as 1908. Her idea followed a devastating mine explosion in a town close to hers, during which 360 men lost their lives. Because of the tragedy, Grace said that a day to remember the fathers who’d been lost would be appropriate.
- The best gift of all, is officially spending time with your dad
A 2010 survey found that rather than wanting golfing lessons or a bottle of the finest wine, dads quite simply would like to spend “quality time with their families” on the big day. The same research also found that dads would really, really like to void the following presents: ties, “World’s Best Dad” tees, mugs and dress shirts (so if any of those are down on your gift buying list, you may need to strike it out and start again).
Now that you have five fascinating facts to share with your dad this Father’s Day, why not discover the perfect present for him? Shop our Personalised Father's Day Gifts now.
