This Sunday is Father’s Day, a time set aside to recognize and appreciate dads, stepdads, and father figures for the roles they play in families and communities.
Across the U.S., people are celebrating in different ways—from backyard cookouts and family dinners to simple phone calls or messages of thanks.
Father’s Day has been officially recognized in the U.S. since 1972, when President Richard Nixon signed it into law as a national holiday.
But it started much earlier.
The first Father’s Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington, in 1910. It was organized by Sonora Smart Dodd, who wanted to honor her father, a Civil War veteran who raised six children on his own.
Inspired by the already established Mother’s Day, Dodd pushed for a similar day to recognize fathers.
Over time, the idea spread, though it took decades to become a permanent holiday.
Father’s Day is often marked by giving gifts, spending time together, or simply saying thanks.
Popular gifts include tools, tech gadgets, clothes, and hobby-related items.
Some people choose to go out for meals or plan low-key activities like watching sports or going fishing.
For many, Father’s Day is a chance to pause and appreciate the people who helped raise them, whether that’s a dad, stepdad, grandfather, uncle, or mentor.
Happy Father’s Day!
