The origins of Father's Day are little known.

Father's Day is an occasion for children to take time to honor the contributions and sacrifices of their fathers, who have given them life and protected them.

Just like Mother's Day, Father's Day is a day for children to express their gratitude and filial piety towards their fathers. In recent years, Father's Day has become more popular in Vietnam.

Father's Day doesn't have a fixed date and is usually celebrated on the third Sunday of June. In 2023, Father's Day fell on June 18th.

In recent years, Father's Day has become more popular in Vietnam. (Illustrative image)

Father's Day has been popular since the early 20th century. The earliest known celebration of Father's Day took place in Fairmont, West Virginia, USA, on July 5, 1908.

This event was organized by Grace Golden Clayton to honor the life of her father, who had died a few months earlier in the Monongah Mining Disaster on December 6, 1907. It's possible that Clayton was influenced by the first Mother's Day celebration that year, and therefore chose the Sunday closest to her recently deceased father's birthday.

However, that event was overshadowed by other events in the city. The state of West Virginia did not officially recognize the holiday, and it was not celebrated again. All the credit for the creation of Father's Day was later given to Sonora Dodd of Spokane, who independently celebrated Father's Day two years later. Her initiative was also influenced by Mother's Day.

One day in 1909, while listening to a sermon about Mother's Day, Sonora thought of a day to honor fathers. Sonora was the eldest of six sisters; her mother died in childbirth, so her father, William Jackson Smart, raised them all alone.

Sonora loves and respects her father because she understands the hardships he has endured. In her eyes, her father is a symbol of sacrifice, selflessness, and compassion. Therefore, she wanted a special day to honor him. Sonora chose June 19th as "Father's Day" because it is also her father's birthday.

In 1966, then-U.S. President Lyndon Johnson officially designated the third Sunday in June as Father's Day nationwide. Father's Day has been celebrated annually since U.S. President Richard Nixon signed into law in 1972 the law recognizing Father's Day as a permanent official holiday.

According to VTC News

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