Father’s Day Celebrates the Men Who Help Shape Lives

Father’s day, celebrated on the third Sunday of June in many countries, is more than an occasion for gifts and family gatherings.

It’s a day dedicated to recognising fathers and father figures whose guidance, support and sacrifices help shape families and communities.

While Mother’s Day has been celebrated for centuries, Father’s Day is a relatively modern observance with roots in the United States (US).

The most widely accepted account traces the day back to 1909, when an American woman named Sonora Dodd sought to honour her father, a Civil War veteran who raised six children on his own after his wife died during childbirth.

After hearing a church sermon about Mother’s Day, Dodd believed fathers deserved similar recognition.