When is Father's Day? Here's when it falls in 2023 and the history of the holiday.

Olivia Munson, USA TODAY
Updated ·2 min read

The first Father's Day was celebrated in 1910, but it took over 60 years for the holiday to become official. Since then, Father's Day has given across the United States the opportunity to show love and appreciation toward the father figures. in their lives.

Whether you celebrate by giving gifts or spending quality time with your dad, Father's Day honors the men in our lives, fatherhood and paternal influences.

Here's what you need to know about Father's Day, including when it falls in 2023 and a little bit about the holiday's history.

When is Father's Day?

Father's Day is Sunday, June 18, 2023.

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Is Father's Day the same date every year?

No. In the United States, Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June. As a result, its date each year varies.

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Why do we celebrate Father's Day?

Father's Day was inspired by its counterpart, Mother's Day.

Mother's Day became a commercial holiday in 1908. By 1914, it was made official by President Woodrow Wilson, who said the second Sunday of May would be dedicated to honoring “that tender, gentle army, the mothers of America.”

After hearing a Mother's Day sermon, Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, was inspired to create a similar holiday that celebrated fathers. Dodd was raised by a widower with 14 children. As a result, she wanted to honor "loving service" of fathers.

Dodd gained support from community members including shopkeepers, churches and government officials. This led to the first Father's Day, which was celebrated on June 19, 1910.

Though Father's Day did not see immediate success, it eventually spread beyond Washington state. In 1916, Wilson recognized the holiday, and in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge urged states to observe Father’s Day.

That did not happen until 1966 when President Lyndon B. Johnson made the first presidential proclamation that honored fathers, designating the third Sunday in June as Father's Day.

Father's Day was made a permanent holiday and was officially signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1972.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is Father's Day 2023? Here's when it falls and history of holiday

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