But, When Was the First Father's Day?

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Christine_Larsen]Christine Larsen
As I researched a tribute I was writing for my Dad, and trying to make it a 'timely' pre-release for the electronic or Internet countdown calendar for special events/anniversaries, I realised that the date of Father's Day in Australia, was not the same in the USA, or Canada, or UK... and my carefully planned timing therefore, was wrong!
Following recovery of my customary poise and 'cool' (?), my curiosity took over, and a whole new Pandora's Box of research reared its ugly head (occasionally a resemblance to a sniffer dog can been noted in my relentless pursuit of information and knowledge!).
So here were some of the questions I asked myself. And most times, myself found the answers - eventually!
When and where was the first Father's Day celebration?
On July 5th, 1908 in a church in West Virginia, USA, a special service was held to honour the deaths and celebrate the lives of 250 fathers (out of 361 men in total) who had died in a mining disaster a few months earlier. This terrible toll deprived over 1,000 children of having a father - and a complete family.
Did it follow annually from that date?
No. It would seem it was unpopular date - even considered inappropriate - because it followed America's joyous Independence Day celebrations too closely, being just the one day after the famous 4th July.
So what date was decided for the USA to celebrate...and why?
The 3rd Sunday in June was chosen, following the efforts of an Arkansas resident, Sonora Smart Dodd to have Father's Day recognised, in the same way as Mother's Day was being promoted. Sonora's personal interest stemmed from being one of six children raised by a single parent (also a Civil War veteran), and she had strongly wished it to be on June 5th, her father's birthday. Although the concept was accepted, the date didn't leave organisers sufficient time, and the 3rd Sunday in June was nominated and the first Father's Day celebrated in Spokane, Washington.
Was Father's Day now 'official'?
No. Despite various US Presidents recognising the day - or having wanted to make it 'official' (Woodrow Wilson in 1916; Calvin Coolidge in 1924; Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966). it was not until 1972, when Richard Nixon actually signed it into law that it was made a permanent National Holiday in the USA.
Which other countries celebrate on this same day?
Canada, England, France, half of South America, China, India, and Japan all share the same date for Father's Day as the USA.
Australia celebrates on the 1st Sunday in September, but it's not a public holiday. Why?
The choice of date remains a mystery, (despite my exhaustive, and exhausting research efforts), and I can only speculate on why it's not a public holiday. Maybe the Australian people felt there were enough public holidays already? And of course, there is no public holiday for Mother's Day either, probably setting a precedent.
Are there any countries that don't observe Father's Day at all?
Over two-thirds of Africa, and some Far Eastern countries do not observe Father's Day. I have not been able to establish the reason for this.
And here's a little 'trivia' that I discovered whilst researching this subject -
There are significantly fewer phone calls, cards and gifts on Father's Day than Mother's Day, reflecting the larger number of households with a mother (particularly single mothers), but not a father.
Interestingly, despite the smaller number of phone calls to Dads on Father's Day, an amazingly high percentage of these are collect calls (or reverse charge calls).
Oh-h-h...poor old Dad! Always needing his hand in his pocket for something!
� 2011 Christine Larsen All Rights Reserved Worldwide
And here's what created this whole line of questioning - [http://www.squidoo.com/in-my-fathers-day]My Father's Day is Every Day and how all these various dates impacted on my 'perfect timing' (NOT!) - [http://cdcraftee.wordpress.com/2011/07/28/some-fathers-do-ave-em]Some Fathers Do 'Ave 'Em
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?But,-When-Was-the-First-Fathers-Day?&id=6465534] But, When Was the First Father's Day?