Mother’s Day gets all the glory. Flowers. Brunches. Breakfast in bed. Hey… I’m not knocking it – I’m a mom, too! But what about Father’s Day? It’s a month later, but equally important. There are more than 72 million fathers in the United States, after all.
A Bit of History
The idea of a day to honor mothers caught on quickly. In 1909, 45 states observed the day, and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson approved a resolution that made the second Sunday in May a holiday in honor of “that tender, gentle army, the mothers of America.”
A day dedicated to honor fathers took longer. Although the concept was floated earlier, it wasn’t until 1972 that Father’s Day became a nationwide holiday in the United States. It’s always on the third Sunday in June.
Thanks, Dads
Sorry it took so long to get a day to yourselves, Dads, but for a half century, we’ve been celebrating you. We appreciate you and the huge contribution you make to our families and our communities.
- Thank you for hoisting us onto your shoulders so we can see what was going on.
- Thank you for teaching us how to grill (or bake or order take out – every dad is different!)
- Thank you for encouraging us to try new things.
- Thank you for showing us how to stand back up when we fall down.
- Thank you for allowing us to cry when we’re hurting.
- Thank you for being you.
You inspire us with your courage, humble us with your hard work and surprise us with your knowledge of things big and small.
Ideas to Celebrate
The Old Farmer’s Almanac, published continuously since 1792, knows a thing or two about fathers. And it has some fantastic ideas on how to celebrate them. Try camping, fishing or cooking for his special day.
Need some recipes? It has those, too. How about Country-Style Rootbeer Glazed Ribs? Or perhaps Daddy’s Meat Loaf? Yum.
