Father's Day: Where It Came From, and How to Do Better Than a Tie

Father's Day has a reputation problem. It's the holiday of the novelty mug, the "World's Best Dad" T-shirt and the tie that never leaves the box. Dads, for their part, tend to insist they don't want anything, and families take them at their word.

But the holiday has a lovely origin story, and with a little thought it can be one of the most memorable days of the year. Here's how it started and how families around the world mark it.

How Father's Day began

The best-known origin story begins in Spokane, Washington. Sonora Smart Dodd was raised, along with her siblings, by her father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran who brought up the children on his own after their mother died. Inspired by the new Mother's Day, Sonora proposed a day to honor fathers like hers.

The first Spokane Father's Day was held in June 1910. There had been at least one earlier one-off observance: a church service in Fairmont, West Virginia, in 1908, held to honor fathers. But it was Dodd's campaign that kept the idea alive.

National recognition came slowly. Father's Day was celebrated informally for decades, and some people dismissed it as a commercial invention. President Lyndon Johnson issued a proclamation in 1966 honoring fathers on the third Sunday in June, and in 1972, President Richard Nixon signed it into law as a permanent national observance.

Father's Day around the world

Many countries, including the U.S., Canada and the U.K., celebrate on the third Sunday in June. But not everywhere:

• Spain, Italy and Portugal traditionally celebrate fathers on March 19, the feast of St. Joseph.
• Australia and New Zealand celebrate on the first Sunday of September.
• Germany marks Vatertag on Ascension Day, often with outings and gatherings of friends.

If your family spans countries, you might get to celebrate twice.

Classic Father's Day traditions

In the U.S., the common rituals are familiar:

• Breakfast, often made (or attempted) by the kids
• A barbecue or cookout, sometimes with dad still somehow at the grill
• An afternoon of whatever dad likes: fishing, a game, a nap
• Cards from school, usually made in the last week of the school year

None of it is fancy, and that's the point. Most dads, asked what made a good Father's Day, describe a day with the family, not a gift.

Why dads say "I don't want anything"

There's a reason the classic tie became a joke. Many dads find it hard to receive gifts, and genuinely can't think of anything they want. What they often do want is less tangible: to be seen. To know their kids noticed the early mornings, the pickups, the bedtime stories, the nights on the floor next to a kid who couldn't sleep.

Our film Dad Is My Wall is about exactly that: a child who drew his dad lying on the floor next to his bed, like a wall that kept the scary things out. Kids notice these things. They just rarely say them.

Father's Day gift ideas from kids

Things kids can make

• A portrait of dad, with the child's explanation written underneath. Ask: "What's dad doing in your drawing?"
• An "interview" with dad's answers guessed by the kids: his age, his job, his favorite food. The guesses are always funny.
• A coupon book: car wash, back rub, one morning of no whining
• A handprint or footprint keepsake, dated

Experiences

• A day of dad's favorite things, chosen by the kids
• A "teach me" day: dad teaches the kids something he loves, like fishing, fixing a bike or a card game
• A one-on-one outing with each child

Gifts that recognize something specific

The best gifts for dads often point to one particular thing he does. Our film Hands Like Gold is about a dad who taught himself to braid his daughter's hair. Our film First in Line is about the dad who is always first in the school pickup line. Both stories end with the child's drawing becoming the gift.

Starting a Father's Day tradition

A ritual repeated every year often means more than any single present:

• A yearly photo of dad and the kids in the same spot, or the same pose
• A yearly letter from each child, kept in a box
• The same breakfast every year, made by the kids
• A yearly drawing of dad, with the same prompt: "Draw dad doing his favorite thing." Watch how it changes over the years.

When a drawing deserves more than the fridge

Every now and then, a child produces a drawing of their dad that you know you'll want forever. That's the one to keep. Scan it, frame it, or turn it into something he'll actually use.

At ANORA, we embroider children's drawings on hoodies and T-shirts. We stitch them as drawn, keeping the wobbly lines and odd proportions. It's a gift dads actually wear, not one that goes in a drawer.

You can upload a drawing here and preview it before you order. Production and U.S. delivery take approximately 12 business days from the start of production, so start a few weeks before June.

Frequently asked questions

Who started Father's Day?

Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, is credited with founding the holiday. The first Spokane Father's Day was held in June 1910 to honor her father, a widower who raised his children alone.

When did Father's Day become official in the U.S.?

President Nixon signed a law in 1972 making the third Sunday in June a permanent national observance.

Why is Father's Day celebrated on different dates in different countries?

Many countries follow the U.S. date in June. Others tie it to older traditions, such as St. Joseph's Day on March 19 in Spain, Italy and Portugal, or set their own dates, like the first Sunday of September in Australia and New Zealand.

What do dads really want for Father's Day?

Many dads say they want time with family and something personal. A handmade gift, a day doing what they love, or a letter from their kids is often valued more than anything store-bought.