Father's Day

In the United States, the driving force behind the establishment of the celebration of Father's Day was Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd, born in Creston, Washington. Her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, as a single parent raised his six children in Spokane, Washington. She was inspired by Anna Jarvis's efforts to establish Mother's Day. Although she initially suggested June 5, the anniversary of her father's death, she did not provide the organizers with enough time to make arrangements, and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June. The first Father's Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in Spokane.

Unofficial support from such figures as William Jennings Bryan was immediate and widespread. President Woodrow Wilson was personally feted by his family in 1916. President Calvin Coolidge recommended it as a national holiday in 1924. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson made Father's Day a holiday to be celebrated on the third Sunday of June. The holiday was not officially recognized until 1972, during the presidency of Richard Nixon.

In recent years, retailers have adapted to the holiday by selling male-oriented gifts such as electronics and tools. Schools and other children's programs commonly have activities to make Father's Day gifts.

Source: Father's Day - Wikipedia

10 Great Father's Day Gifts Online

by: Cynthia Marcano

Ok, so Father’s Day is approaching and you’d rather go to the dentist than buy another tie. Save the appointment for wisdom teeth trouble and make shopping a little easier by searching for Father's Day gifts online. Here are 10 gift ideas found online for Father’s Day that are sure to bring a SINCERE smile to his face.

10. Father of the Year Plaque – Show your appreciation for that special Father with a trophy or plaque that honors him as a Father.

9. Magazine Subscription - This is the gift that keeps on giving year round. Popular subscriptions are Sports Illustrated, Men’s Journal and Muscle & Fitness. There are others that I would rather not mention, but I am sure would get a positive reaction, if you know what I mean.

8. Sports Tickets - Because Father’s Day is during the summer, baseball would the sporting event to get tickets for. Other options are wrestling events or golf tournaments.

7. Golf Getaway - Speaking of golf, a golf getaway is a really nice gift and a great way for busy dad to unwind.

6. Gift Basket - You are probably thinking Gift Basket?! Yup I said gift basket. You can find any themed gift basket nowadays including golf, fishing, football, baseball and movie lovers.

5. Clothing - I gave my father-in-law a T-shirt with his only granddaughter’s picture on it and it he has it folded in a drawer so that he can’t ruin it. Saying he worships it - is an understatement. If he isn’t the sentimental type, golf shirts and shorts work too.

4. Watch – They seem to be a necessity that men don’t splurge on. If he is wearing a watch with a plastic wristband, you need to read no further. Go shopping right away.

3. Barbeque Supplies - The weather is warm and there is a good chance you are having a BBQ to celebrate Father’s Day. Start the BBQ off right with new cooking tools for the BBQ cook.

2. Tools - This is a pretty obvious choice but a great gift nonetheless. Especially if you married someone like Tim Taylor – The Tool Man

1. A day to watch sports, pig out and do whatever it is, he likes to do. Consider this his special day. Things like breakfast in bed, renting his favorite movie (you know the one with all the guns, violence and macho stuff) and cooking his favorite dinner could be just what the father asked for.

About The Author

Cynthia Marcano is owner of Simply Sinful Baskets. Visit www.simplysinfulbaskets.com and find gifts for all occasions.

* In Charlestown there is the reconstructed Fort at Number 4 from the 1740s and 1750s. * New Hampshire is host to the New Hampshire Highland Games. New Hampshire has also registered an official tartan with the proper authorities in Scotland, used to make kilts worn by the State Police while they serve during the games. * New Hampshire is the healthiest state in the nation, tied with Minnesota, as ranked by the United Health Foundation, 2003. * New Hampshire has the only piece of Interstate highway that is two-lane (a single northbound lane and a single southbound lane) with a cobblestone median. This was done to preserve Franconia Notch, the site of the Old Man of the Mountain, a former rock formation visible from Interstate 93 in Franconia. * Its license plates boast the famous state motto: "Live free or die." Antebellum New Hampshire produced numerous youth who went on to become famous national leaders. * New Hampshire was the last of the New England states to observe Fast Day, a day of prayer for a bountiful harvest. It was a legal holiday until 1991, when it was replaced by Civil Rights Day, which was later renamed "Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil Rights Day", becoming the second to last state to have a "Martin Luther King" day. * In 2003, it gained international attention for having the first openly gay bishop of a large mainline Christian church, Gene Robinson, within the Anglican Communion (the Episcopal Church in the United States of America). * New Hampshire's recreational attractions include skiing and other winter sports; "leaf-peeping" or observing the spectacular fall foliage; summer cottages along many lakes; and the New Hampshire International Speedway, home of the Loudon Classic, the longest-running motorcycle race in the United States. * USS New Hampshire was named in honor of this state. * Killington, Vermont has twice voted to secede from Vermont and join New Hampshire—a largely symbolic act, since secession would require the agreement of both states' legislatures and the U.S. Congress. Supporters of secession note that almost all Vermont towns were first chartered by New Hampshire and point out that the two states already have some unusual cross-border links, including two of the rare interstate school districts in the United States (a third is shared by Oregon and Nevada). Source: Wikipedia.org - English