Father’s Day 2024 – When, How, and Why Did It Begin?

Father’s Day 2024: Father’s Day is commemorated on the third Sunday of June each year. Therefore, in 2024, the third Sunday falls on the 16th of June. While Father’s Day is celebrated on different dates around the world, most countries observe it on the third Sunday of June. It is celebrated on the third Sunday of June in countries like the United States, India, and Canada. Father’s Day will be celebrated on June 16th, 2024.

What is Father’s Day and when is it? You probably already know, but do you know why Father’s Day is celebrated? What is the reason behind celebrating Father’s Day? How and when did Father’s Day begin? What is the story or history of Father’s Day? Father’s Day is an occasion that comes to make your father feel special and to express gratitude for his contributions to the entire family, reminding us of the importance of fathers in our lives.

But why do we celebrate Father’s Day? How did Father’s Day start? When and where was the first Father’s Day celebrated, or what is the significance of Father’s Day?

The History of Father’s Day [Father’s Day 2024]

• There are several popular stories associated with the celebration of Father’s Day 2024, and here we are sharing two main stories with you that are closely related to Father’s Day and are considered reasons for celebrating it.
• The first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in America to honor Ms. Sonora Smart Dodd’s father. William Smart, Sonora’s father was a veteran of the Civil War. His wife passed away while giving birth to their sixth child.
• After his wife’s demise, William Smart single-handedly raised and supported his six children. Following William Smart’s death, his daughter Sonora wanted to commemorate Father’s Day on the day of her father’s death, which was June 5.
• However, for various reasons, it was later moved to the third Sunday of June. Since then, people around the world have been celebrating Father’s Day on the third Sunday of June.
• According to the second story, Father’s Day was first celebrated in America on July 5, 1908, in the city of Fairmont, West Virginia.
• On July 5, 1908, in the state of Virginia, America, Father’s Day was observed in memory of 361 men who died in a coal mine explosion in December 1907.
• Apart from these, many other hidden stories are considered reasons for celebrating Father’s Day, but these two stories are the most widely known.

Later, during President Nixon’s administration in 1972, Father’s Day was officially recognized as a national holiday.

In recent years, the Father’s Day festival has gained tremendous popularity. Today, it is considered a secular festival, celebrated not only in the United States but also in numerous countries worldwide, including Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, France, Norway, Germany, New Zealand, Japan, and India, among others.

Why is Father’s Day Celebrated?

Father’s Day is celebrated worldwide as an occasion to express gratitude, honor fathers, and pay tribute to them. On this day, people around the world celebrate their dads as a way of showing appreciation and making them feel special.

Children give their dads the most popular gift and make efforts to make them feel extraordinary. Father’s Day was first celebrated in Fairmont, West Virginia, on July 5, 1908.

Father’s Day: Unveiling the Controversy and Commercialization

• Despite its emergence, Father’s Day faced widespread skepticism among many men. Historians note their disdain for the holiday’s sentimental gestures of domesticating masculinity through flowers and gift-giving. Some even mocked the growing number of holidays, branding them as mere commercial tactics to boost product sales, often financed by the fathers themselves.
• In the 1920s and 1930s, a movement advocating for the abolition of separate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gained momentum, favoring a unified occasion called Parents’ Day. Every year on Mother’s Day, pro-Parents’ Day groups staged rallies in New York City’s Central Park, aiming to emphasize the importance of showing love and respect for both parents simultaneously.
• Ironically, the Great Depression disrupted the efforts to merge and de-commercialize these holidays. Struggling retailers and advertisers redoubled their marketing campaigns, transforming Father’s Day into a “second Christmas” for men. They promoted various goods like neckties, hats, socks, pipes and tobacco, sporting equipment, and greeting cards.

• With the advent of World War II, advertisers began framing the celebration of Father’s Day as a means to honor American troops and support the war effort. While Father’s Day had not yet become a federal holiday, it had become deeply ingrained in the nation’s fabric by the war’s end.
• In a momentous turn of events during a fiercely contested presidential re-election campaign in 1972, Richard Nixon put pen to paper and signed a proclamation that officially declared Father’s Day as a federal holiday, forever cementing its status and importance.
• Nowadays, economists estimate that Americans spend over $1 billion each year on Father’s Day gifts, showcasing the significant commercialization of the occasion.
• The journey of Father’s Day has been marked by controversies and a transformation from a heartfelt sentiment to a commercialized event. Nevertheless, the essence of honoring fathers and their contributions remains a central focus, transcending the challenges posed by commercial influences.

The Impact of Busy Lifestyles on Parental Relationships

Father’s Day 2024: Due to their busy lifestyles, people often find it difficult to allocate time for their parents, leading to strain on the most crucial relationships. While our parents may become upset with us, their love for us never diminishes. However, even as children grow up, they can also become upset with their fathers over trivial matters. This can result in growing distances within the relationship. If you also wish to keep your dad happy, these tips might be helpful.

• Become a Good Friend

If you want to be a good friend to your dad, make an effort to learn about all the important aspects of his life. You can ask him about his job and try to understand what troubles him. Sharing these details with you will make your dad feel good. This will strengthen the bond between you and your dad.

• Be Ready to Help

If you see your father struggling with any problem, try to help him. A father fulfills every small need of his children, so it would be nice if you also appreciate him for that.

• Remember Good Times

Spend time with your dad, reminisce about the good times you both have had together and remember the moments you shared. Like watching cartoons together during childhood or how he used to cook for you. Remembering those precious moments can help foster love and affection between you both.

• Listen to His Thoughts

Often, parents and children have difficulty understanding each other’s perspectives, leading to arguments. In such situations, listen carefully to your parents’ thoughts and try to explain your views with love. Remember, building a strong and loving relationship with your father requires effort and understanding from both sides.

Make Father’s Day Special in Unique Ways

• Plan a Weekend Getaway

Since Father’s Day falls on a Sunday, why not take a weekend off and go on a holiday with just you and your dad? This will give both of you a special time together and strengthen your bond. You still have plenty of time to start working on this, so get started now.

• Throw a Surprise Party for Him

Organize a surprise party for your dad. Invite his friends to the party and make sure to include all his favorite food. Plan the party in a way that brings back memories of his old days.

• Indulge in His Favorite Shopping

Many times, dads tend to save money or avoid buying things they like due to various responsibilities. But this is an opportunity for you to get your dad his favorite items. Take him shopping and let him buy all those things he had refrained from purchasing due to financial constraints.

• Relieve Him of Major Responsibilities

If you are capable of taking up some of your dad’s major responsibilities, Father’s Day is a good day to do so. Sit down, analyze all the tasks, calculate, and assure him that you will take care of these things in the future. By accomplishing these small tasks, you can make your dad happy. Remember, Father’s Day is an opportunity to express your love and gratitude towards your dad. Put in the effort to make it a truly special day for him.