New Delhi:Father's Day provides an opportunity to honour fathers and father figures whose love, support and guidance have shaped our lives. While Father's Day is often celebrated through gifts, family meals and heartfelt gestures, its history dates back more than a century.
Father’s Day will be celebrated on Sunday, June 21 in 2026 in India, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and a number of other countries that observe the day on the third Sunday of June.
The origin of Father's Day
The modern celebration of Father’s Day is often attributed to Sonora Smart Dodd, an American woman from Spokane, Washington. Mother’s Day was becoming a popular holiday and she thought that fathers also deserved a day of recognition. She drew inspiration from her own father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran who raised six children alone after his wife died.
Sonora lobbied for a special day for fathers, wanting to honour his dedication and sacrifice.
The first Father's Day celebration
Sonora lobbied for a special day for fathers, wanting to honour his dedication and sacrifice. The idea was slowly catching on in the United States, and soon spread to the rest of the world. But it was not until 1972 that Father’s Day became an official national holiday in the United States when President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation declaring the day.
Why is Father's Day celebrated?
Father’s Day is celebrated to recognize the important role that fathers and father figures play in families and in society.
The occasion encourages people to appreciate:
The love and support fathers provideThe sacrifices they make for their familiesThe guidance and life lessons they shareThe unique bond between fathers and their childrenIt also offers families the chance to make lasting memories together.
How Father's Day is celebrated
Father’s Day is celebrated in various ways around the world. Common traditions.
Exchanging cards, greetings and giftsOrganising family lunches or dinnersSpending quality time togetherSharing photographs and tributes on social mediaAs the countdown begins to Father’s Day on June 21, 2026, families across the globe will come together again to honor the men who have led, protected and held up families through every chapter of life.
Whether it’s a thoughtful gift, a family gathering or a simple phone call, Father’s Day is ultimately about taking the time to say thank you to the people who have always been there when it mattered most.
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