Father's Day Countdown

Father's Day in the United States, Canada, and many other countries is celebrated on the third Sunday of June. It is a day to honor fathers and father figures — including grandfathers, stepfathers, and paternal role models — with gifts, cards, and shared activities. Father's Day in the United States is credited to Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, who proposed the holiday in 1909 after listening to a Mother's Day sermon. Her father, William Smart, was a Civil War veteran who raised six children alone after his wife died in childbirth. Dodd initially pushed for June 5 — her father's birthday — but the first Father's Day celebration was held on June 19, 1910 in Spokane. Despite support from President Calvin Coolidge in 1924, Father's Day did not become a permanent national holiday until 1972, when President Nixon signed it into law. Common Father's Day gifts include ties, grilling equipment, tools, electronics, and experiences such as golf rounds or sporting events. Father's Day sees significant retail spending, though less than Mother's Day — around $20 billion annually in the US compared to $35 billion for Mother's Day. It is also one of the busiest days for collect phone calls, as adult children call home. Father's Day dates vary internationally: Germany celebrates on Ascension Day (40 days after Easter), Australia on the first Sunday of September, and Thailand on the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej (December 5).

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