The origins and traditions of Father’s Day

Father’s Day is a holiday celebrating fathers and fatherhood. It is celebrated on many different dates around the world, most commonly in the months of March, April and June. Many countries across the world, however, have adopted the US date, which celebrates Father’s Day every third Sunday of June.

Make your own Father's Day newspaper -  Happiedays

The origins of Father’s Day in Europe

The United States’ version of Father’s Day was quickly adopted by other countries across the world. However, Father’s Day was originally unrelated to the secular American holiday and originally had Christian roots. In Catholic Europe, a customary date for celebrating fatherhood is known to date back to the Middle Ages and was commonly observed on 19 March (Saint Joseph’s Day). However, the growing influence of the American Father’s Day (brought over to the UK by US WWII soldiers) soon took root in many European countries and has typically been celebrated on the third Sunday of June ever since.

The origins of Father’s Day in the United States

The modern holiday Father’s Day was founded in 1910 by American Sonora Smart Dodd whose own father (civil war veteran William Jackson Smart) was a single parent who had raised six children. After hearing about Anna Jarvis' successful promotion of Mother’s Day, Dodd campaigned for a similar holiday to honour fathers and fatherhood. After many failed attempts, the holiday gradually gained national recognition in 1966 under President Lyndon B. Johnson and was declared a permanent national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972.

Make your own Father's Day newspaper -  Happiedays
Make your own Father's Day newspaper -  Happiedays

Gifts for Father’s Day

Much like Mother’s Day, surprising your father with a small and thoughtful gift has become part of tradition. But there’s no need to break the bank on this one! A great Father’s Day gift has more to do with the time and effort that’s gone into it than with its price tag. Nothing beats a meaningful, home-made gift! Are you still on the lookout for a fun and original Father’s Day gift? Happiedays is the perfect gift solution!