There are diverse claims to the Father's Day history and origin. Some say it started in West Virginia, others opine that Father's Day was first observed in Washington, few believe Father's Day originated in Chicago. Whatever might be the reasons, go ahead and wish your dad on his special day.

Father's Day History

There are divided opinions on Father's Day history or the Father's Day origin. Some say it started in 1908 in West Virginia with a formal church service. Some others hold that Father's Day was first held in Vancouver, Washington. And there's a third view that passes the honors of the first observances of Father's Day to the President of Lion's Club of Chicago, Harry Meek. In 1915, Father's Day was observed on the third Sunday in June, and incidentally it was the day closest to Mr. Meek's birthday.

Now, all these sound confusing indeed. You might be at a loss figuring out as to which is the most authentic of these diverse claims to the Father's Day origin. But relax. There are no confusions when it comes to singling out the person who tried her best to promote and establish a Father's Day.

She is one woman named Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd, who hailed from Spokane, Washington. As was destined, she and her siblings lost their mother at a very young age. But luckily, they had something out-of-the-ordinary reserved for them! They were blessed with a wonderful dad who made all the difference to their lives. Their Civil War veteran father did not let the six motherless kids feel the absence of their mom for once. He was a dad and a mom all together for these unfortunate (or do we say very much fortunate?) kids. And it was this unparalleled love, care and sacrifices of Mr. William Jackson Smart, her father, which Mrs. Dodd could never forget.

Mrs. Dodd decided to honor her father by honoring all fathers of the world with a special day, the Father's Day. And for a daughter, there could have been no better day to do it other than her own father's birthday. Therefore, in 1909, she proposed her minister and all the who's who of Spokane to hold a church service in honor of the fathers on June 5, which was Mr. William Jackson Smart's birthday. But it was a little difficult to finish the arrangements within that date. So a later date was proposed for Father's Day, June 18. Since then, the third Sunday in June came to be celebrated as Father's Day in Washington.

Mrs. Dodd did everything possible to make the Father's Day observances popular worldwide but Father's Day was slow in gripping mass attention. In fact her efforts at establishing a Father's Day remained unknown even in her own state in spite of a Government Declaration.

Father's Day, however, became an annual celebration separately in different parts of America. And, interestingly enough, each of these states believed that it was doing something new and was celebrating Father's Day for the first time! What's more interesting is that all of them chose the month of June. Now, very soon all the regional organizations and the various states started soliciting Congress individually for making Father's Day a national holiday in America. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson gave the first nod of approval. But Mrs. Dodd's dream of having a Father's Day came true only when President Calvin Coolidge officially made it a national holiday in 1924. Coolidge felt the need to underline the importance of father in a child's life and he believed that there should be some way to let all the fathers know 'the full measure of their obligations'. Father's Day got its official recognition from then on and is celebrated on the third Sunday in June every year.