Once Upon a Time, Father's Day was Born...100 Years Ago
Sonora Smart Dodd.
Does that name ring a bell or have any importance to you?
Well, this Sunday you'll be celebrating Father's Day thanks to Dodd who originated this special day for fathers everywhere. Better yet, this Sunday marks the 100th birthday of Father's Day! That's right, Father's Day has been celebrated for 100 years. Now sit back, relax and let me retell the story of how Father's Day came about...
Once upon a time in Spokane, Washington, a young woman was sitting in church, attentively listening to the Sunday sermon on Mother's Day. It was the year 1910, two years after the first Mother's Day observance in West Virginia.
During this sermon, Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd realized something as she listened about the maternal sacrifices made for children -- it was her own father that made the sacrifices as he raised her and her 5 brothers...ALONE...after his wife died during childbirth. She realized fathers must also be recognized for their sacrifices and hard work, too.
And thus the idea of having a Father's Day was born and proposed. While the town of Spokane strongly supported it, it did receive a bit of criticism before it officially became an official observance in 1972, 62 years after it was proposed.
During the first observance, young members of the YMCA went to church wearing roses: a red rose to honor a living father, and a white rose to honor a deceased one. Dodd traveled through the city in a horse-drawn carriage, carrying gifts to fathers.
Dodd wanted Father's Day to be observed on her father's birthday (June 5), but the ministers claimed they needed extra time to prepare sermons on the new subject of fathers. This is why Father's Day always falls on the third Sunday of June.
"Either we honor both our parents, mother and father, or let us desist from honoring either one. But to single out just one of our two parents and omit the other is the most grievous insult imaginable."
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Anna "Banana" Kruchten was recently chosen as one of 12 Masters of Real Estate by the National Association of REALTORS® at realtor.org. Phoenix practitioner Anna "Banana" Kruchten has a knack for using unique strategies to market her properties, gain new clients & train her agents how to build a successful real estate practice.
Anna, thanks for sharing the origins. I was afraid it was another Hallmark creation -- this is much nicer. Wishing you and yours a great weekend, and a special day on Sunday.
I didn't know the origins of Father's Day. Very interesting! I also notice your "Masters Series" video. I watched it when it was featured at REALTOR Magazine...and just now, watching it again, I thought it was not only informative, but a great connection to a true real estate professional. CONGRATULATIONS!..to you...and for those who get to work with you.
Anna: Both my wife and I were lucky enough to have fathers that were unbelievably loving, wise, and true gentlemen. I learned much of how to be a Father through observation and memories of my own dad, Ken Mundt, and my father-in-law, Fred Richards. I pray that my own children can sometime say the same about me ... as well as their grandfathers. Now that our youngest is going to be a father himself soon ... Father's Day has more meaning than ever. Thank you for providing this little bit of history regarding this special day ...
Bill...it's hard to imagine not honoring both...isn't it? Most parents are truly deserving - and then some of many days of being honored.
Lottie - I too was surprised to learn that it was not a hallmark holiday but rather a honest-to-goodness attempt at honoring fathers. I really didn't know this before I did some research.,
Hi janeAnne - you and me alike I had no idea either. Thanks a bunch for your encouragement to grow and expand. You have made a huge difference in how I see things......and it's all forward! I appreciate your words on being a true professional as it's been so much a part of me and my business for so many years. Thank You!
Debra - I am glad to share this with all of you - I had no idea either which is kind of interesting!
Claude - nice to see you! Either you've been very busy or both have us have been so that our paths haven't crossed. Both my parents have passed and yet they still live on every day.......and I still ask for answers. Good parents...of which I'm grateful. Happy Father's Day!
Gene - what a wonderful gift you had of such loving father figures, as do your kids and soon to be grandbaby. Congratulations on the new grandbaby! You are a true example of a great DAD! Happy Fathers Day & Grandfarther's Day!
Bruce - Happy Father's Day to you! Enjoy your weekend!
Anna banana, well done..once again. Love the new signature, I hadn't seen it yet. Excellent post and story for the weekend. This is my first father's day. Looking forward to it and this story makes it even better.
How interesting. This is also the 100th anniversary of the birth of Samuel Barber and the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederic Chopin. I'm working on piano concerts for both of them. I'm sure both of them were fathers.
Just since 1972??? Wow - I thought it'd been established my whole life! I guess that's why there's an old 'first' Mother's Day card to my Mom in my box of childhood stuff, but no Father's Day card. Never thought about that.
Anna, my brother, sister, and I will get together tomorrow to honor Fathers Day even though Dad has been gone for awhile. We also do this on Mothers Day to honor Mom. Great story and tomorrow we will be both happy and sad.
Wow, Anna. I didn't know that. I also didn't realize Father's Day wasn't an officially recognized observance until 1972. It's always been observed as far back as I can remember. Interesting!
Anna....I did not know the origin of Father's Day. Thank you for sharing the history and origin of such a special day. I wholeheartedly agree that both parents deserve to be honored with their own day.
Hi Anna - I never knew the story about how Father's Day came into being. God bless Sonora Smart Dodd for recognizing that Dads are an irreplacable part of the parenting team.
Hi Anna! I love this post--I never knew this about Father's Day and do agree that fathers deserve their very own day.
I also wanted to let you know that I watched your Master Series video and am totally impressed. You and I do think far more alike than I ever knew! I do what you do and like you, it works. I'm also glad to hear that you feel that this market is worse than the late 80's were. I was a home buyer then but, not a REALTOR. I keep hearing from the agents that have been in the business for many years saying that the 80's market was so much worse. I can't imagine! As for revamping your plan--there was a period about two years ago that I revamped my business plan nearly every month! It has certainly paid off and as you said, we're on the cusp of the turn-around--it's 2010 (thank goodness)!
Great job on the video--very professional and very informative. I know your agents are thrilled to work with you!
Thank it's good to know there are others that know this style works - has for me for years. Yes this market is FAR worse than the late 80's - which was a blip compared to this. We've still got another 3 to5 years before we're somewhat 'normal' again. At least in our market.
Oh yes - I totaly understand re-doing the business plan on the fly - which is exactly what we needed to do to surrived the despeate times. Thankfully it worked - all the hard, serious, dedicated efforts worked. Actually - I think the results are just starting to show - this next couple of years is going to be fantastic in many many ways.
Thanks for the kudos on video - it was really due to Katie Tarbox's great producing. She's a whiz!
BTW - I will doing a webinar for NAR on July 13 about propecting with John Mayfield.
Anna, it's time to dust off this post and publish it again! Hard to believe it is almost a year later. Also watched your video, and we have reinvented ourselves to survive this market. So glad to hear your perspective from a Realtor® who survived the 80s market. We also have another 2-4 years before we are normal again.
Sharon - when I saw you left a comment on this post from last year - I thought - good grief a whole year has gone by again! Amazing, isn't it! Yes I had to re-invent myself when the market feel flat in 07/08 and we're going to come out well. The 80's was nothing like this one - by a long shot. We'll all make it though...I know we will.!
Anna "Banana" Kruchten is here to help you navigate buying or selling a home - valley wide. My blog is updated almost daily so be sure to subscribe and keep abreast of what's going on in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
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Hi Anna, Interesting post. I agree with the sentiment about honoring both or neither !