Published: 11 June 2025
Father’s Day is always a special day at Holker Hall & Gardens, a destination where families can enjoy shared experiences, gather for a celebratory lunch in our Courtyard Café and even make a last minute Father’s Day purchase in our Gift Shop. Here we explore the origins of the Father’s Day celebration.
A daughter’s devotion
The story most commonly credited as the beginning of Father’s Day as we know it today starts in Spokane, Washington in 1910. Sonora Smart Dodd, the daughter of Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, was inspired by the recently established Mother’s Day to create a similar celebration for fathers. Raised, along with her siblings, by her single father after her mother’s death, Sonora saw first-hand the dedication and sacrifice her father made.
She campaigned to have a day to recognise male parents like hers, suggesting June 5th, her father’s birthday. Although the local clergy couldn’t prepare sermons in time, they settled on June 19th for the first official Father’s Day celebration. Churches in Spokane honoured fathers with special services, and the idea began to gain traction slowly across the USA.
National recognition — and resistance
Despite early enthusiasm, Father’s Day didn’t achieve immediate national recognition. In part, this was due to cultural views of masculinity at the time; many men viewed the idea of a holiday centred around male parenting as frivolous or even emasculating. Retailers supported it, but some critics saw it as a commercial grab, leading to decades of ambivalence. Nevertheless, several U.S. presidents endorsed the idea. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge encouraged state governments to observe it. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued a proclamation designating the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. Finally, in 1972, President Richard Nixon signed it into US law as a permanent national holiday.
A global celebration
Though it originated in the U.S., Father’s Day is now celebrated in over 70 countries worldwide. While many countries — including the UK, Canada, and India — mark it on the third Sunday in June, others have different traditions. Germany, for example, celebrates it on Ascension Day with hiking and beer; Thailand marks Father’s Day on December 5th, the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej – and Spain and Italy observe it on March 19th, the feast day of Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus.
Celebrate with us
Today, Father’s Day is a valuable moment to reflect on the role of father figures — biological dads, stepfathers, grandfathers, mentors, and carers — in shaping lives and families. What began as a daughter’s tribute to her devoted father has become a global opportunity to express appreciation for paternal love and guidance. Whether celebrated with a simple phone call, a Sunday roast, or heartfelt words, Father’s Day reminds us that behind every strong family, there is often a strong father — quietly doing his best.
Father’s Day Lunch at our Courtyard Cafe is a most fitting way to show Dad your appreciation. More details here.