What You Never Knew About The History & 'Backlash' Of Father's Day

Father's Day, celebrated on the third Sunday of June, has a rich history that many may not know. The holiday's origins trace back to the early 1900s, when Sonora Smart Dodd, inspired by Mother’s Day, sought to honor her father, a Civil War veteran and single parent of six.

The first Father's Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington, in 1910; however, the path to national recognition was not smooth. According to an episode of Ridiculous History on iHeartRadio, Father's Day faced backlash and was often seen as an attempt to commercialize the bond between fathers and their children. It wasn't until 1972, under President Richard Nixon, that Father's Day became a permanent national holiday in the United States.

The holiday has since evolved, with many using the day to reflect on the roles and responsibilities of fatherhood. While the holiday has commercial aspects, its core remains a celebration of paternal bonds and the influence of fathers in society.

In the episode, hosts Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown dive deeper into the origins of Father's Day to discover that "different local communities had their own kind of Father's Day-esque things for a while, just like in the case of Mother's Day, there was this unofficial push to make it a national holiday that occurred on the same day for everyone across the nation."

Listen to Ridiculous History on iHeartRadio for the full scoop on the creation and backlash of Father's Day as we approach the beloved holiday.