Father’s Day is recognized by many countries around the world as a day to celebrate the important contributions fathers make in the lives of their children. In the United States and Canada the date of Father’s Day is fixed as the third Sunday in June.
The History of Father’s Day in America
Contemporary Father’s Day in the U.S. has two origins. The first Father’s Day, possibly inspired by Anna Jarvis’ first Mother’s Day celebration in nearby Grafton, West Virginia, occurred in Fairmont, West Virginia on July 5, 1908. The Father’s Day celebration took place in an Episcopal church and was intended to honor the fathers killed in a mine explosion a few months prior. It is believed that Grace Golden Clayton suggested the church service.
On June 19, 1910, Sonora Smart Dodd saw the culmination of her drive to create Father’s Day in honor of her father, a civil war veteran. Smart’s celebration took place at the YMCA in Spokane, Washington.
Recognition of Father’s Day as an American national holiday was slow to develop. President Calvin Coolidge recommended it as a holiday in 1924 and President Lyndon Johnson gave a presidential proclamation declaring Father’s Day a holiday in 1966. Finally, in 1972 Father’s Day became official when Richard Nixon signed it into law.
Date of Fathers Day Date or Date of Father’s Day?
The accepted spelling of Father’s Day in the United States requires the apostrophe to be placed prior to the “s” in “Father’s”, indicating the singular possessive form of the word. This matches the accepted spelling of Mother’s Day. For example, it is correct to write “Father’s Day date”, but it is not correct to write “Fathers Day date”.
When is Father’s Day This Year?
In the United States, the date of Father’s Day is fixed by congressional decree as the third Sunday in June. The following list indicates the correct date of Father’s Day through the year 2020.
- Father’s Day 2015 Date – June 21
- Father’s Day 2016 Date – June 19
- Father’s Day 2017 Date – June 18
- Father’s Day 2018 Date – June 17
- Father’s Day 2019 Date – June 16
- Father’s Day 2020 Date – June 21
- Father’s Day 2021 Date – June 20
- Father’s Day 2022 Date – June 19
Father’s Day Celebrations
Throughout North America, Father’s Day is celebrated with gifts of electronics, tools, cookouts, and other family activities. Fatherhood is very deserving of this important date.
