Father's Day and a Giveaway

With Nancy J. Farrier

Father’s Day and Mother’s Day were first celebrated in the same decade—the first of the 1900’s. Mother’s Day became an official US holiday in 1914, but Father’s Day took much longer to become official.

There are many possibilities for how Father’s Day first began in the United States, but the most popular story surrounds Sonora Smart Dodd and the idea she conceived of honoring her father after listening to a Mother’s Day sermon. Sonora’s father, a Civil War veteran, earned her respect by the way he provided and cared for his children after his wife died giving birth to their sixth child.

Notman Photo Co.,
Boston, Mass

The first Father’s Day celebration took place June 19, 1910, the third Sunday in June. Sonora tried to have the holiday on June 5^th, but a delay put the celebration on the third Sunday instead. Several communities embraced the idea and the holiday began to spread across the country.

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson approved the idea. President Calvin Coolidge pushed for Father’s Day to become a national holiday in 1924, but didn’t received approval. President Coolidge wanted to, “...establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children...” He also wanted to help father’s to understand the, “...full measure of their obligations...”

Arnold Newman (WHPO)

Four decades later, President Lyndon Johnson signed a proclamation that the third Sunday in June would be Father’s Day. In 1974, Sonora Dodd was honored at the World’s Fair in Spokane, Washington for her part in the instigation of the holiday. Ms. Dodd passed away in 1978.

Many countries around the world have followed suit and started their own celebration for Father’s Day. Over forty countries chose to use the 3^rd Sunday of June as their day of celebration too.

Photo by Internet Archive Book Images

Many notable people have given tribute to their father’s and believe their encouragement and instruction to be the reason they are who they are. President Theodore Roosevelt said this of his father, "He combined strength and courage with gentleness, tenderness and great unselfishness. He would not tolerate in us children selfishness or cruelty, idleness, cowardic, or untruthfulness. As we grew older he made us understand that the same standard of clean living was demanded for the boys as for the girls; that what was wrong in a woman could not be right in a man. With great love and patience, and the most understanding sympathy and consideration, he combined insistence on discipline …”

Anthony Berger, photographer

Another notable father is Abraham Lincoln. It is said he gave his children free reign in the White House and even allowed them to interrupt important meetings. The deaths of three of his children devastated him. He was reported to be “remarkably fond” of his children.

Photo by Howard Coster

A.A. Milne, author of the Winnie the Pooh books, loved his son, Christopher Robin so much that he wrote books with his son as the main character. He based many of the animals in the books on the stuffed animals Christopher Robin owned. Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo and Tigger were all taken from his son’s toys. Winnie the Pooh was based on his son’s bear, Edward, but renamed after a Canadian black bear, a mascot in WWI. Milne didn’t like that his Pooh books became so popular, but I picture his interacting with his son as he made up stories.

J.R.R. Tolkien was another author who wrote for his children. He had four children, three boys and a girl. Each year, Tolkien wrote illustrated letters to his

J.R.R. Tolkien 1916

children from Father Christmas. The stories grew with more characters added, and Father Christmas had to battle against goblins who rode on bats. He also wrote his famous book, The Hobbit, first as chapters to entertain his children.

There are many stories of fathers who do a remarkable job raising their children. I once met a man who mentioned raising eight children on his own. His wife died a week after the youngest was born. I stopped the conversation and made his repeat what he’d said and questioned him about how he managed. I also met some of his nearly grown children, who were wonderful young people. I think of him as a hero for doing such an amazing job as a father.

Do you have any stories of father’s who have done something amazing for their children? Maybe your own father has had a profound influence on who you are. Please share something on this blog to be entered to win a $10 Starbucks gift card for a special father you know. Be sure to leave your email address to be entered.

Nancy J Farrier is an award winning author who lives in Southern California in the Mojave Desert. She loves the Southwest with its interesting historical past. Nancy and her husband have five children and two grandsons. When Nancy isn’t writing, she loves to read, do needlecraft, play with her cats, and spend time with her family. Nancy is represented by Karen Ball of The Steve Laube Literary Agency. You can read more about Nancy and her books on her website: nancyjfarrier.com.