Father’s Day apparently came about in the early 20th century to (you guessed it) complement Mother’s Day. Although the exact origin of the day is unclear, it is reported that the strongest promoter of the holiday was Mrs Bruce John Dodd from Washington. Her father was a veteran of the American Civil War and his wife died young, leaving him to raise six children on his own.
Read about how the role of fathers has changed in society
In 1909, Dodd asked her minister to have a church service dedicated to fathers, but it was only in 1924 that President Calvin Coolidge made Father’s Day a national event. Since then, many fathers have been honoured, recognised and spoiled on the third Sunday in June, although the date can vary depending on the country.
