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====Early History====It is purported that the earliest celebration of a father dates to about 4,000 years ago, to ancient Babylon, where a boy, named Elmesu, created a type of card for his father out of clay that wished his father good health and a long life. While this might not relate to any special day celebrating fathers, it could suggest occasions may have been selected, perhaps without a specific calendar date, where fathers would be given well wishes from their children.<ref>For more on the card from Elmesu, see: Colo, Alfred. (2012). <i>American Holidays</i>. Xlibris Corporation, pg. 50. </ref>

It In early Christian tradition, Saint Joseph, Jesus' father, was celebrated on March 19th (Figure 1). Some have speculated that the date was selected because it falls near March 20th, which is purported the equinox. The Sun may have been celebrated in parts of Europe around that time, prior to the earliest celebration arrival of Christianity, and a father dates to about 4fatherly figure was equated with the sun. Joseph may have replaced the importance of the sun during the conversion of Europeans. However, this connection is not clear or agreed upon. In any case,000 years agothe celebration of Joseph, to ancient Babylonboth in European Catholic tradition, where a boyand that in the Middle East, named Elmesusuch as through the Coptic and Orthodox churches, created a type equated fatherhood with that of card Joseph. Saint Joseph was celebrated for nurturing Jesus in his father out of clay that wished him good health and a long lifeyouth. While this might not relate Thus, fatherhood was seen as an important role to any special day celebrating fatherscelebrate for its nourishment, it could suggest occasions may have been selectedspiritually and in sustenance, perhaps without a specific calendar date, where fathers would be given well wishesfor children raised.

In early Christian tradition, Saint Joseph, Jesus' father, was celebrated on March 19th (Figure 1). Some have speculated that the date was selected because it falls near March 20th, which is the equinox. The Sun may have been celebrated in parts of Europe around that time, prior to the arrival of Christianity, and a fatherly figure was equated with the sun. Joseph may have replaced the importance of the sun during the conversion of Europeans. However, this connection is not clear or agreed upon. In any case, the celebration of Joseph, both in European Catholic tradition, and that in the Middle East, such as through the Coptic and Orthodox churches, equated fatherhood with that of Joseph. Saint Joseph was celebrated for nurturing Jesus in his youth. Thus, fatherhood was seen as an important role to celebrate for its nourishment, spiritually and in sustenance, for children raised. The tradition of celebrating Saint Joseph was spread throughout areas Spanish explorers went, particularly the New World. Some Catholic countries today have now made the celebration of Father's Day on March 19th, where the date is seen as being inspired by Saint Joseph. The Coptic church celebrates Saint Joseph on July 20th; for Egyptian Christians, July 20th is still a significant day and often is associated with celebrating fathers and fatherhood. This might date from the 5th century and could be among the earliest recorded celebrations in relation to officially celebrating fatherhood.<ref>For more on Joseph and his feast day in relation to Father's Day, see: Raman, V. (2005). <i>Variety in Religion and Science: Daily Reflections</i>. iUniverse. New Yor., pg. 234. </ref>

[[File:Saint Joseph In 1910, another woman, Sonora Smart Dodd from Spokane Washington, was listening to a Mother's Day sermon when she wanted to have a Father's Day celebration. Mostly she felt mothers were getting more attention than fathers who had also sacrificed a lot or sometimes dealt with adversity in raising their children. In fact, her father was a war veteran who raised six children by himself after the Infant Jesus by Guido Reni, c 1635death of his wife.jpg|thumbnail|Figure 1He often worked long hours to provide for his family on his meager farm. Saint Joseph Initially, she wanted to celebrate the day on June 5th, which was associated with her father's birthday, but the Methodist Church she asked to preach about fathers, where he was seen as an example and celebrate her father decided to make it the third Sunday of June for the official sermon and celebration on fatherhood . This created this date as the tradition in bringing up Jesusthe United States.]]<ref>For more on Dodd's efforts, see: Colo 2012: 49 </ref>

==Early Development In the first few years after 1910, the idea of Father's Day spread throughout the country and prominent politicians such as William Jennings Bryant and members of congress proposed a bill to celebrate Father's Day in 1913. The bill was slow to come to the floor and Woodrow Wilson made a new push to celebrate it officially in 1916 by wanting it declared as a federal holiday. By then, however, it became evident that Mother's Day had become increasingly commercialized. Congress feared it was simply making a commercial holiday or benefit rather than a real holiday to celebrate fathers. Members of Congress killed the proposal and the idea faded again until President Coolidge proposed it being celebrated by Americans in 1924. Recognizing the problems with commercialism in Mother's Day, he simply recommended people celebrate Father's Day in their own private way or with their communities.<ref>For more on the United States==efforts in trying to make Father's Day an official holiday, see: LaRossa, Ralph. (1997). <i>The Modernization of Fatherhood: A Social and Political History</i>. University of Chicago. Chicago. </ref>

Meanwhile, Dodd continued promoting the idea of Father's Day origins in , where the third Sunday of June had become the United States derive from 1908, soon after Mother's Day was initiated by Anne Jarvisholiday people celebrated. Similar to Mother's Day, many businesses that saw a potential benefit from Father's Day did begin to help Dodd in promoting Fathers Day in the 1930s. An association of businesses even formed to promote the holiday. Perhaps the origin relate Great Depression helped create incentive for them to mourning replicate the success of a loss of a fatherMother's Day by this time promoting male-oriented gifts such as pipes. This timeHowever, it this was Grace Golden Clayton, from Fairmont, West Virginia, was morning her fatherprobably off-putting to Americans who were not impressed with how Mother's Day became so commercialized or simply became fatigued. HoweverThus, she lost her father Father's Day did not gain in a very tragic mining accident much popularity in December 1907the 1930s-1940s, where 361 men died in a major incident in Monogah, West Virginiaalthough it was celebrated and promoted throughout the country (Figure 2). She had asked <ref>For more on the local pastor early commercialization efforts in Fairmont relation to celebrate not just her father but all fathers lost on July 5Father's Day, see: Cross, 1908Gary. (2000). <i>An All-consuming Century: Why Commercialism Won in Modern America</i>. Columbia University Press. Unlike JarvisNew York, Clayton was far less vocal and the tradition did not spread far outside of Fairmont for some timepp.52 </ref>

====Today's Father's Day in the United States====In 19101957, another woman, Sonora Smart Dodd from Spokane Washington, was listening Main Senator Margaret Smith reintroduced a proposal to a Motherofficially celebrating Father's Day sermon when she wanted through a bill from Congress. Once again, other priorities and lack of clear benefit led to have a the bill being stalled. Lyndon Johnson, in 1966, however re-energized the Father's Day celebration. Mostly she felt mothers were getting more attention than fathers who had also sacrificed a lot or sometimes dealt with adversity in raising their children. In fact, her father was a war veteran who raised six children movement by himself after proclaiming the death third Sunday of his wife. He often worked long hours June the 'official' day to provide for his family on his meager farmcelebrate fatherhood in the United States. InitiallyThis time, she wanted this helped to celebrate put the day issue on June 5ththe agenda of Congress, which was her fatheralthough it still took another six years before finally President Nixon signed in 1972 the bill that made Father's Day a national holiday.<ref>For more on Margaret Smith's birthdayefforts and the passing of Father's Day by Congress, see: Coleman, M. & Ganong, but the Methodist Church she asked to preach about fathers decided to make it the third sunday L.H. (2014).<i> The Social History of June for the official sermon and celebration on fatherhoodAmerican Family: An Encyclopedia</i>. SAGE Publications.</ref>

In the first few years after 1910Interestingly, while consumers and even Congress were always wary that Father's Day would become another commercial excuse for consumerism, Dodd, one of the idea key promoters of Father's Day spread throughout the country and prominent politicians , never had a problem with this. Unlike Jarvis, she saw that she had to use strong allies such as William Jennings Bryant and members industry to promote her idea of congress proposed a bill to celebrate Father's Day in 1913, otherwise it stood little chance. The bill In effect, she felt that it was slow simply realistic to come expect industry to do something that benefits itself if she was going to get what she wanted and have the floor and Woodrow Wilson made a new push to celebrate it officially in 1916 by wanting it declared day she started as a federal holidaythe official Father's Day. By thenAlthough, unlike Jarvis, howeverthere was no active movement fighting the commercialization of Father's Day, ironically it became evident is Father's Day that is arguably today not as commercialized as Mother's Day had become very commercialized. Congress feared it was simply making There might be a commercial holiday or benefit rather than a real holiday to celebrate fathersfew reasons for this. Members Perhaps one of Congress killed the proposal and biggest reasons is simply that people are fatigued with all the idea faded again until President Coolidge proposed it being celebrated by Americans in 1924. Recognizing the problems with commercialism in May spending, particularly Mother's Dayday. Nevertheless, he simply recommended people celebrate it still has developed into something of a holiday with a lot commercialism. <ref>For more on the modern economics of Father's Day. , see: LaRossa 1997: 185 </ref>

Meanwhile====Summary====Celebration and appreciation of fatherhood can be seen from records as early as 2000 BC. More official celebrations become evident in early Christianity, Dodd continued promoting when Joseph was seen as the idea example of Father's Dayfatherhood throughout Catholic Europe and the Orthodox Middle East and North Africa. Later, where in the third Sunday United States, new traditions formed that have since influenced most of June had become the holiday people celebrated. Similar to Motherworld's Day, many business that saw a potential benefit from celebrations of Father's Day did begin to help Dodd in promoting Fathers Day in the 1930s. Perhaps the Great Depression helped create incentive for them to replicate the success of , although like Mother's Day by this time promoting male-oriented gifts such as pipesmany different dates are used. HoweverIn the United States, this it was probably off-putting to Americans who were not impressed with how Mother's Day became so commercializedthe fear of commercialization that limited its early influence. Thus, It took commercial promotion and a reawakening in the 1950s and 1960s that eventually put Father's Day did not gain in much popularity in the 1930s-1940s, although it was celebrated and promoted throughout the country (Figure 2)a more official path as a holiday.

==Today's Father's Day in the [[Category:Wikis]][[Category:Holiday History]][[Category:United States==History]][[Category:Ancient History]] In 1957, Main Senator Margaret Smith reintroduced a proposal to officially celebrating Father's Day through a bill from Congress. Once again, other priorities and lack of clear benefit led to the bill being stalled. Lyndon Johnson, in 1966, however re-energized the Father's Day movement by proclaiming the third Sunday of June the 'official' day to celebrate fatherhood in the United States. This time, this helped to put the issue on the agenda of congress, although it still took another six years before finally President Nixon signed in 1972 the bill that made Father's Day a national holiday.  Interestingly, while consumers and even Congress were always wary that Father's Day would become another commercial excuse for consumerism, Dodd, one of the key promoters of Father's Day, never had a problem with this. Unlike Jarvis, she saw that she had to use strong allies such as industry to promote her idea of Father's Day, otherwise it stood little chance. In effect, she felt that it was simply realistic to expect industry to do something that benefits itself if she was going to get what she wanted and have the day she started as the official Father's Day. Today, Father's Day is arguably not as commercialized as Mother's Day. There might be a few reasons for this. Perhaps one of the biggest reasons is simply that people are fatigued with all the May spending, particularly Mother's day. Nevertheless, it still has developed into something of a holiday with a lot commercialism. ==Summary== ==References=={{Contributors}}