Consider this your Father’s Day reminder, which is coming up this Sunday, June 17! I’ll post about my dad on Sunday, but wanted to do a short mid-week post about the upcoming holiday.
A Brief History of Father’s Day
Father’s Day was established in my alma mater hometown, Spokane, WA in 1910. Sonora Smart Dodd was the daughter of a widower who felt her dad deserved the same annual recognition that mothers received. Over the years, the holiday slowly gained popularity among churches, cities, and congress. Although it was a national institution by the end of World War II, it wasn’t until 1972 (!) that President Nixon signed a law declaring it to be a federal holiday occurring on the third Sunday in June.
During the Great Depression retailers promoted Father’s Day as a “second Christmas.” For some, Father’s Day remains a commercialized holiday in which fathers are purchased token gifts (sometimes with their own money, depending on the age of the child!). In fact, Americans are estimated to spend over $1 billion on gifts and cards for Father’s Day. I appreciate the day as a way to tell my dad how much he means to me, in spite of the stores emphatically pushing their manly products during June.
Gift Ideas
Dads are tough to shop for. If your dad is anything like mine, he is content with what he has, and replaces items on his own when something he likes wears out. Here are five easy gift ideas for the “pops” in your life.
- Funny [Buy]
- For the Reader. I recommend the Kindle Paperwhite. [Buy]
- Just for fun – every guy loves a toy. [Buy]
- For the new Dad — Commemorate the recent exciting occasion!
[Buy – Keychain] [Buy – Picture] - For the Dad-to-be who just missed the date! [Buy]
Regardless whether you get a gift, a card, or nothing, make your dad feel loved this weekend if you’re able.
Dad: if you’re reading this, I went off-list, so no spoilers!