Father's Day is a day set aside to honor and recognize our fathers and father figures for their love, sacrifice, and guidance. Observed in the United States every year on the third Sunday in the month of June, it is a day that affords families the chance to express love and appreciation with tokens of love, warm sentiments, or some good ol’ quality time. Father’s Day will be on June 15 in 2025. It may not be as commercial or as grand as other holidays, but its sentimental value is powerful. From such humble beginnings in the early 20th century, Father’s Day has grown into a celebrated national holiday, honoring fathers for the love and strength they provide families.
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When is Father’s Day in the US?
Father's Day is observed on the third Sunday of June in the United States. In 2025, it will occur on June 15. The day is meant to honor and celebrate fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, and other father figures who have a positive impact on our lives. Many families spend quality time together, children give thoughtful presents, or share kind wishes, and they all thank the fatherly figures who have shown love, care, and guidance. Not a federal holiday, it has significant emotional resonance and is widely observed throughout the country.
Origin of Father’s Day in the US
Father’s Day in the United States was an unofficial holiday in the United States in the early 1900s with the idea of complementing Mother’s Day and how parents and parent figures should all be celebrated. The notion had been planted by Sonora Smart Dodd, a Spokane, Washington, woman who was moved by the increasing prospect of Mother’s Day. Dodd’s father, William Jackson Smart, was a Civil War veteran who became a single parent and raised six children by himself after his wife died. Inspired by his commitment, she began a campaign for a day to honor fathers like him. The first formal Father’s Day was held on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington, and rumour has it that local churches, along with the YMCA, took the lead to celebrate the everlasting bond between father and the children.
Father’s Day enjoyed early urban enclaves but took several generations to become nationally recognized. President Woodrow Wilson recognized the celebration in 1916, and in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge urged the states to observe it, but no formal holiday was declared. The pro-options fight dragged on, however, until 1972, when Richard Nixon finally made it law that Father’s Day would become a permanent national holiday in the U.S., by way of being observed every third Sunday of June. Today, it's a poignant salute to the love, power, and wisdom of dads everywhere.
Key Facts About US Father’s Day
- Father’s Day is not a federal holiday, though most government offices and many businesses are closed if it falls on the weekend, it’s always observed on a Sunday.
- It is among the highest-spending holidays in the U.S.; the big purchases tend to include clothing, electronics, tools, and experiences such as dining or trips.
- The National Retail Federation (NRF) consistently finds that more than 75% of Americans commemorate the day in some way.
- Cards are a key part of the celebrations, with millions sent each year, in fact, one of the busiest times for card companies.
- Many brands and retailers introduce Father’s Day sales and campaigns, particularly in categories such as men’s grooming, watches, and sports.
- Some religious groups have special services and events to honor fathers.
- Father’s Day-themed content is also a popular item for media, including TV specials, movies, and articles covering both parenting and fatherhood in general.
- Social media is flooded with Father’s Day tributes as people take to social media to share messages, pictures, and videos dedicated to their fathers. The holiday has also prompted discussions about modern fatherhood, underscored by the changing roles of dads in parenting and family life.
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