Who started Father's Day?

In 1910, a Father's Day celebration was held in Spokane, Washington, at the YMCA by Sonora Smart Dodd, who was born in Arkansas. Its first celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910. Her father, the civil war veteran William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised his six children there. After hearing a sermon about Jarvis' Mother's Day in 1909 at Central Methodist Episcopal Church, she told her pastor that fathers should have a similar holiday honoring them. Although she initially suggested June 5, her father's birthday, the pastors did not have enough time to prepare their sermons, and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June. Several local clergymen accepted the idea, and on June 19, 1910, the first Father's Day, "sermons honoring fathers were presented throughout the city."

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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34 Comments

William Laughlin

Yvette M Parent, Yes, lets not celebrate anything or anyone in a positive way for fear it may cause some "pain" for the few. Perhaps you had a love affair once that ended badly, so lets do away with Valentine's Day too! Oh, and that time you got so drunk on beer, so let's check off Saint Patrick's Day, and... oh, never mind. Let's just not celebrate holidays. They're all so painful anyway!

Larry Freeman

That can be said about any day of celebration, if you subscribe to the "have a miserable day and pass it on" school of thought. I'm sorry that the thought of approximately 322 million (minus "so many") people taking a day to honor their mothers and fathers causes pain for you and the unquantified "many". I'm OK with you thinking it selfish if I continue to do so.

Peter de Loriol

Sorry, but this may have been the founding in America, but not in Europe - this was founded way before. Maybe the question should have been who founded Father's day in the United states of America?

Diane McLoughlin

Father’s Day has been celebrated by Catholic Church in Europe on 19th March since the Middle Ages. 😊

Renee Shirley

According to the article, Father's Day was celebrated on St Joseph's Day, March 19 throughout the Middle Ages. Most countries celebrate a different day . The third Sunday in June is a made up American holiday.

Howard Groopman

Had to guess on this one. As usual, I went with the long name. I knew it wasn't Smith; she was a US Senator from Maine long ago.

Merri Sillery

Although I am American, I must agree with most of the commentors. This question should never have passed review, it pertains to the American holiday but the question does not address it as an America holiday. Also, it shows I am the first to dislike this question. Please take the half second to dislike a question that is bad and if you have the time report it too, I did.

Vonda Carson

It is celebrated in September in Australia

Eamonn Hayes

Answer is incorrect Fathers Day had been celebrated in Europe from the Middle Ages you question should have read who started it in the US

Kath Thomson

Historians have recorded that there was a tradition to celebrate Father’s Day even thousands of years ago. Their studies state that 4,000 years ago in Babylon a son called Elmesu carved a Father’s Day message on a clay card. In his message, Elmesu wished his father a long and healthy life. Historically this was the beginning of observing a day specially dedicated to fathers. It is believed that several countries retained the custom of celebrating Father’s Day from then on. But this was only in a small corner of the world. The starting of Father's day celebrations in the US resulted in the spreading of this celebrebration to many more countries. Father's day in NZ has come from the States although we celebrate it in September at the beginning of Spring. Mother's Day is celebrated in May at the end of Autumn with Chrysanthemums being the associated flower.

Isabel Laing

I feel all these special days give joy and happiness to people. If you know some one is on their own include them if you can in your families celebration. Every one needs to feel appreciated.

Karin Johansson

Joseph A. Robitaille, it is much older than that.

Karin Johansson

Lancashireredrosebabe , in Sweden Mother's day but Father's day are in November.

Pat Lord Lawson

I did not dare miss this one! I knew the Dodd family in Spokane. They were still active in the Methodist Church.

Syed Hussain

I am also sceptical as I do believe these are all advertisement gimmicks for boosting sale of pretty useless items. These are neither sought for nor ever used. Socks and mugs ''Dad'' mum', ugh !