Father's Day 2014: History and Origin; Inspirational Quotes to Share with Your Dad

It is estimated that there are over 70.1 million fathers across the United States alone. While it has been a commonplace to push Mother's day a step ahead in importance, Father's day, none the less, is said to be one of the biggest card-sending holidays in the world.

The popular day, which celebrates fatherhood, paternal bonds and the important role played by fathers in society, is celebrated on the third Sunday of June, though it is also celebrated widely on other dates.

But how did such an important holiday ever come into existence?

History and Origin

Although the history of the modern 'Father's day' celebration dates back only about a hundred years old, the origins of such a celebration could be traced back to thousands of years.

Earliest indication of such celebrations were said to be traced in the ruins of Babylon (ancient cities dating from the period of the Akkadian Empire, in the present day Iraq). Scholars have reportedly recorded a young boy's Father's Day message carved on a card made out of clay, nearly 4,000 years ago. The young boy named 'Elmesu' is said to have wished his father good health and a long life, in the historic card. Such historical records tend to suggest that celebrations of Father's Day were held all over the world for several centuries.

Modern Day Celebrations

The modern version of the Father's Day celebration originated in the US in the early years of the 20^th Century and thereafter spread to the rest of the world. Such a day existed, thanks to Sonora Louise Smart Dodd, referred to as a 'loving daughter' from Spokane, Washington, who is reported to have fought her way out to see the dawn of a day dedicated exclusively for fathers.

The idea dawned upon Sonora's mind, when she attended a Mother's Day sermon in 1909 where she thought to herself: If there is a Mother's Day, why can't there be one for fathers?

The day was thus founded by Sonora in 1910 in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association), where it was first celebrated on 19 June that year. Her father, the Civil war veteran William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised his six children alone.

Quotes and Sayings for Fathers

In Celebration of the Father's Day 2014, here are some inspirational quotes and sayings to share with one's dad:

1. "Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad." – Anne Geddes
2. "Few sons are like their fathers – many are worse, few better." – Homer, Greek philosopher and author of The Odyssey
3. "Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope." – Billy Cosby, American comedian and actor.
4. "Above all, children need our unconditional love, whether they succeed or make mistakes; when life is easy and when life is tough." President Barack Obama
5. "This is my most important role. If I fail at this, I fail at everything." – Mark Wahlberg, American actor
6. "When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry." – William Shakespeare
7. "Nothing I've ever done has given me more joys and rewards than being a father to my children." – Bill Cosby
8. "This is the price you pay for having a great father. You get the wonder, the joy, the tender moments – and you get the tears at the end, too. – Harlan Coben
9. "Failing and laughing at your own shortcomings are the hallmarks of a sane parent." – Jim Gaffigan
10. "The heart of a father is the masterpiece of nature." – Abbey Prevost
11. "My father gave me the greatest give anyone could give another person: he believed in me." – Jim Valvano
12. It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had never been to nay ways, was the bravest man who ever lived." – Harper Lee
13. "To her the name of father was another name for love." –Fanny Fern
14. "It is a wise father that knows his own child." – Shakespeare

And finally a punchy one:

1. "By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong." – Charles Wadsworth