Happy Father's Day!
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In the US, Father’s Day is a day to honor and celebrate dads and father figures. The third Sunday in June is when the holiday is observed each year. The following are a few customs connected to Father’s Day:

-Sending cards or gifts: As a sign of gratitude, it’s customary for people to send cards or gifts to their fathers.

-Spend time together: Whether it’s over a meal, an excursion, or just a phone conversation, many families opt to spend meaningful time with their fathers.

-Honoring and remembering fathers who have passed away: On this day, some people honor and remember their fathers who are no longer with them.

The origins of Father’s Day can be traced back to Sonora Smart Dodd, who was inspired by her father, a Civil War veteran, and his role in raising her and her siblings after their mother died in childbirth. She proposed the idea of a day to honor fathers while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in 1909. The first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. It wasn’t until 1972 that President Richard Nixon signed legislation designating the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day, making it a national holiday

The idea for Father’s Day was initially met with less enthusiasm than Mother’s Day, partly because fathers don’t have the same sentimental appeal as mothers. But Sonora’s perseverance paid off, and Washington State hosted the first-ever state-wide Father’s Day celebration.

Over time, the holiday gained popularity and spread across the country. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge supported the observance of Father’s Day, and in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued a proclamation recognizing the day. Finally, in 1972, President Richard Nixon signed legislation designating the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day.

Today, Father’s Day is celebrated in the United States on the third Sunday of June and is a time for people to show appreciation for their fathers and father figures. It has become a day for giving gifts and spending time with family.

Father’s Day took longer to become a national holiday compared to Mother’s Day for several reasons. One significant factor was the perception of fathers at the time. Unlike Mother’s Day, which was quickly embraced due to its association with femininity and the sentimental appeal of honoring mothers, Father’s Day did not have the same level of sentimental value attached to it.

Men in the early 20th century viewed the idea of Father’s Day as similar to Mother’s Day, which was popular with florists and gift-giving, and they found it too effeminate to their liking. Additionally, the role of fathers in the family during that period was different; it was patriarchal, and many men felt that a special day to exalt fatherhood was unnecessary when mothers were already underappreciated.

It wasn’t until societal attitudes began to change and the importance of fatherhood was more widely recognized that Father’s Day gained the support needed to become a national holiday. This shift in perception allowed for Father’s Day to be established as a day to honor fathers and celebrate fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society.