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Father's Day—how it all began |
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Father's Day crops up the third weekend in June around the official start of summer, and usually means a card,
perhaps a meal, maybe even a snappy gift. But there's more to it than that.
Here are some interesting facts and figures about Father's Day:
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Sonora Dodd first proposed the Father's Day idea in 1909. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father,
William Smart. Smart, a Civil War veteran, single-handedly raised Dodd and her five siblings on a farm
in rural Washington state, after his wife died giving birth to their sixth child. Dodd's father was born
in June, so she chose June 19, 1910, to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane.
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Flowers and Father's Day go way back. They were an early way to celebrate Father's Day, particularly
a white lilac.
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President Woodrow Wilson approved the idea of Father's Day in 1916, but it wasn't until 1924 that
President Calvin Coolidge made it a national event.
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President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation in 1966 declaring the third Sunday in June
officially Father's Day.
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Though initially a celebration of American origins, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, and Spain observe
Father's Day earlier in the year on March 19th. Plenty of other countries celebrate it around the same
time we do.
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More collect calls are made on Father's Day than any other day!
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Unique ideas to celebrate Father's Day |
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Get creative and make this year's celebration something different. Here are some ideas:
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Pick up a cheap thrift-store tie, gift wrap it, and give it to Dad like you're serious. Here's the
trick: On the back side of the tie, before you gift wrap it, slip in a little note that serves as an
IOU promising to take him to see his favorite sports team play, a trip to the movie of his choice,
or a list of chores you'll do without complaining.
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Plan a special outing around something unusual or completely different. Go on and do the brunch thing,
but afterward tour a submarine, go mushroom hunting, take in a guided tour of a museum's new exhibition,
or ride a small-gauge railroad in the woods. Check online or your local paper for all sorts of fun
options. Maybe write down a number of them and have him pick one from a hat!
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Surprise him with a favorite treat-chocolate cake, pulled pork sandwiches, whatever he loves. Cook it
with the kids and eat outdoors.
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Give him a hobby certificate: A free pass for a day of golf, a card game with his buddies, or whatever
his special hobby is.
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Load up his MP3 player with all his favorite tunes-or burn a CD he can take in the car.
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Naptime is something you can give dad as a gift! Present him a nap or TV coupon.
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More gift ideas |
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Father's Day is a great day to capture memories with a digital camera from HP.
See the full line up,
and find the model that's best for him.
A Photosmart All-in-One photo printer is a versatile addition to Dad's home office. Check out
the different models.
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An HP Photosmart R837
has 7.2 megapixels and features like Pet-eye fix that Dad will enjoy.
Customize a
Father's Day card
from the Activity Center with your own digital photo.
Get Dad a
HP Photosmart C7180 all-in-one printer.
It has built-in wireless and Bluetooth, and prints great photos, too.
Put a great shot of Dad in action into a cool frame that says "Happy Father's Day!" Try the
basil & twill
style.
Make Dad a set of
playing cards
unlike any other-featuring family photos in the face cards! |
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