Spring is officially upon us, and it's possible you're still patting yourself on the back for managing to get flowers delivered to Mom in time for Mother's Day (thank you, internet, for making last-minute gifts possible). But now that that's over, it's time to start thinking about another very important person in your life — Dad. When is Father's Day 2016? If you haven't marked your calendar yet, now's the time — the holiday will be here before you know it.
Father's Day 2016 is June 19 this year, which means you still have plenty of time to figure out how exactly you intend to celebrate. It's an important date to be mindful of, as these holidays seem to creep up on us out of nowhere. Father's Day doesn't have the same calendar date every year, which makes things even more difficult — Father's Day always falls on the third Sunday in June. It's not a federal holiday, but it is nationally recognized, and while Dad may not be the best when it comes to remembering dates, this one is likely on his radar.
Every family is different, and there's no wrong way to celebrate Father's Day, but it's never too early to start planning. Here are five Father's Day facts to mull over as you begin brainstorming ideas.
1. The origins of Father's Day are actually pretty tragic, depending on who you ask
There are a couple of different Father's Day origin stories out there, but one report is that Father's Day takes inspiration from a large memorial service held in 1908 that commemorated the lives of a large group of men killed in a mining accident in West Virginia in 1907.
2. Father's Day was inspired by Mother's Day
Anna Jarvis, inspired by her mother Ann Reeves Jarvis' activism to educate young mothers about health problems like tuberculosis, was already working to make Mother's Day a holiday in 1908. Sonora Smart Dodd, a woman living in Spokane, Washington, believed that if mothers got a day of recognition, fathers deserved one too, and began pushing for a Father's Day campaign of her own. Originally, she wanted to celebrate the day on June 5, her father's birthday.
3. Father's Day didn't become an official holiday until the 1970s
President Richard Nixon was the one to officially recognize Father's Day as a holiday in 1972, although Woodrow Wilson had also approved of Dodd's efforts in 1916 and worked to make it a more widely accepted and celebrated occasion.
4. It's a global celebration
Today, Father's Day is celebrated in more than 60 countries around the world. However, depending on where you live, you might not celebrate it the third Sunday in June. For example, Father's Day in Australia is the first Sunday in September.
5. It's still not as popular as Mother's Day
Nothing against all you incredible dads out there, but as far as numbers go, Father's Day still falls behind Mother's Day. According to the Greeting Card Association, it comes in fourth place behind Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Mother's Day in terms of how many cards are purchased and sent.
So there you have it! Mark your calendars, and use this opportunity to squeeze in a little online shopping at work. Dads are kind of the greatest for a number of reasons, and you want yours to know it. Of course, if you want to send him a quick text message now to tell him how awesome he is, I'm sure he wouldn't mind that it's coming a few weeks early.
Images: Getty Images (3)
