The day to celebrate dads, grandfathers and anyone who serves in a fatherly role is fast approaching. No matter how you choose to celebrate the day, here is what you need to know about Father’s Day.
When is Father’s Day 2025?
It is always the third Sunday of June. This year, Father’s Day lands on Sunday, June 15.
When was the first Father’s Day?
The first Father’s Day was celebrated in 1910, but it took more than six decades for the day to become official. The holiday piggybacked off Mother’s Day, which became a commercial holiday in 1908. By 1914, Mother’s Day was made official by President Woodrow Wilson, who said the second Sunday of May would be dedicated to honoring “that tender, gentle army, the mothers of America.
The country was slower to honor fathers on a particular day. However in 1916, Wilson recognized Father’s Day, and in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge urged states to observe the holiday. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson made the first presidential proclamation that honored fathers, designating the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.
What’s the background of Father’s Day?
Several events inspired Father’s Day in the early 1900s – among them the creation of Mother’s Day around the same time. According to the Farmers Almanac, some cite the first Father’s Day observance to the 1907 Monongah, West Virginia mining disaster that killed 361 men — 250 of them who were fathers — which left more than a thousand children without a dad. A church service honored the men.
Sonora Smart Dodd, who was born in 1882, is recognized as the founder of Father’s Day. Dodd, who died in 1978, was raised by a twice married, twice widowed Civil War veteran with 14 children. As a result, she wanted to honor “loving service” of fathers and advocated that fathers should also be honored for their dedication to their families.
What can you do on Father’s Day?
Host a barbecue, play a game of ball (or watch some professional players at the ball park,) go fishing, take a hike, spend the day on the golf course. People celebrate the holiday by showing dads they appreciate them through gifts, taking them out to eat or simply spending time with them.
What if you no longer have a dad?
Father’s Day is not just about your own dad – it is also a time to celebrate men who serve as father figures. Celebrate your grandfather, favorite uncle or another male role model such as a teacher, coach or pastor. If your own dad has died, the day is also a time to honor his memory by sharing a special story that reminds you of his spirit.
Is Father’s Day a federal holiday?
No. However, Father’s Day is celebrated across the nation.
There are 11 federal holidays in the United States. Those remaining in 2024 include:
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: When is Father’s Day this year? Everything you need to know
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
