Happy Father's Day! A Guide To How This Celebration Came To Be

June is traditionally the time when we wish our fathers, or the fathers of our children, a happy Father's Day. We celebrate the day by showing our thanks to the special men in our lives, and the role they have played in shaping their families. But how did this tradition come to be? Here's a brief guide to the history of Father's Day.

The Origins Of Father's Day

Father's Day originally came about to complement Mother's Day celebrations. There are two popular stories depicting the exact dates when the holiday began.

The first Father's Day was thought to be started in Fairmont, West Virginia, in July 1908. Grace Golden Clayton wanted to start the celebration as a way to remember 210 fathers who lost their lives in the Monongah Mining Disaster at the end of 1907.

However, the more popular story states that Father's Day was first held in June 1910, after Sonora Smart Dodd got the idea when listening to a Mother's Day sermon. She felt that she wanted to give her own father recognition - as well as all other fathers - and the idea of Father's Day was born.

It took a while for the idea to catch on, and Sonora spent a lot of time spreading her idea. She decided on the date of the first Father's Day, June 5, based on her own Father's birthday. However, more preparation was needed and the day wasn't actually celebrated until June 19, 1910.

Despite this enthusiasm and support, many people dismissed the idea of Father's Day when compared to Mother's Day. It wasn't until the 1920s that the idea started to be recognized more widely, though the proposal to make it a formal holiday was dismissed by Congress a number of times.

In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson finally officially proclaimed the third Sunday of June to be Father's Day, which was made permanent in 1972. It became more and more common for people to start wishing their Father's a happy Father's Day after this date!

Father's Day Today

Unlike Mother's Day, Father’s Day does not have its roots in religion. It was simply a day proposed by someone who had eternal gratitude to her father, who had raised her and her siblings since her mother's death. Therefore, celebrations are completely secular traditions.

People tend to follow the standard set by Mother's Day for their fathers. They often make a special effort to visit or call them on the day, and will give a wide range of gifts to honor their father's. It has become just as commercialized as Mother's Day, though on average more gifts are bought and more phone calls are made on Mother's Day than Father's Day.

Gifts For Dads On Their First Father's Day

Every man sees new meaning in Father's Day when it stops just being about their own father, and starts to become a day about them, too! As the mother of your partner's child, making that day special is your most important job. Here are five ideas for presents for dads on their first Father's Day.

1) Spend Time Together As A Family

The most important presents for dads on Father's Day are those that involve spending time together as a family. This could mean going out somewhere, having some food together,or simply making the time to be together and enjoy each others' company.

With a new baby to look after, the chances are the two of you are already busy enough as it is! So don't make plans too grand. Keeping things simple is usually the best way to go, and it won't make it any less meaningful as long as you put some thought into what you do on the day.

2) Give Gifts On Behalf Of Baby

Of course, your newborn baby isn't going to be able to buy his daddy gifts for a few years, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun pretending! Presenting your partner with some thoughtful gifts on behalf of the baby will really hit home that he is a father and deserves to be spoiled on Father's Day from now on!

3) Start A New Scrapbook

Here's a unique gift idea that'll mean a lot to the family in years to come: why not start a new father and baby scrapbook that you can add to as your baby grows? This is a really personal and thoughtful gift that will bring a lump to any new father's throat! And it beats some of the less personal and more expensive presents for dads too!

4) Prepare Some Food

You don't necessarily have to prepare anything fancy, but cooking your baby's dad his favorite meal on Father's Day will mean a lot. You could even load up on picnic ingredients and go out somewhere with the baby. Or, if he's got a busy day ahead, you can prepare him breakfast in bed instead.

5) Something He Loves, Even If You Don't

Whatever you decide to buy or do on the day, remember that presents for dads are all about him. Do something that he loves, even if you don't. He'll really appreciate you allowing him to enjoy his favorite hobby even if it's not exactly your idea of a good time.

Father's Day Gift Ideas For Men Who Love Music

Ideas for men who love music come in many different forms. No matter whether your dad loves listening to music or creating it, you're bound to find an excellent gift to suit your father and your budget this Father's Day.

Music Games

If your dad is the kind of guy who loves music and computer games, then there are now a huge range of music games available on the market. You could buy your dad the Rockband game and instrument controllers, or perhaps he has dreams of becoming a Guitar Hero? You can even buy dancing games if your dad enjoys a bit more activity. Just make sure he already has the console to play the games on!

Musical Instruments And Accessories

For those who can play real instruments, as well as the video game kind, you'll probably never have a shortage of gift ideas for men on Father's Day. For a start, you could think about any accessories he may need to go with his musical instrument. Could a digital tuner or a metronome help him out? Or maybe you could buy him a cool new guitar strap? Music stands and new guitar strings are also thoughtful and practical gift ideas for Father's Day.

If you're not sure exactly what he needs alongside his musical instrument then you could buy him some sheet music or songbooks instead. Think of artists or composers that he likes, and buy sheet music in the same style.

Or, for someone who has always fancied himself a musician but has never gotten around to learning, why not buy a few hours of music tuition? Despite his potential protests, you are never too old to learn a new skill! He'll probably have a lot of fun getting started.

Think About His Musical Heroes

Anyone who is into music will usually have some musical heroes, and anything related to these heroes will make fantastic gift ideas for men. At the top of the scale, this could mean a signed photograph or album cover, or tickets to see his favorite act live in concert. If you can't get hold of these, you might consider buying a remastered version of the artist's music, or any albums that are lacking from your dad's collection. You could even go out on a limb and choose music by a new act that you think he'll really like.

Other Musical Gift Ideas

Still need more ideas?! Well thankfully there are so many for any music lover! Some other musical gift ideas for men on Father's Day include:

* Noise canceling headphones so he can get away from everything and enjoy his music in peace,
* A new turntable to connect up to his modern music system,
* An iPod if he doesn't have one already,
* Amazon gift cards (or maybe iTunes) so that he can choose the music he wants to buy,
* Gadgets that will help him convert his old cassette tapes and records to digital MP3s.

I hope you can find some suitable gift ideas for men from the huge list above! The most important thing is that you're thinking carefully about your dad's interests and buying him something he'll really appreciate!

Coming Up With Unique Gift Ideas For Dad On Father's Day

Coming up with unique gift ideas for dad each and every Father's Day isn't always easy. If you've exhausted the traditional gifts, and want this year to be a little different, take a look at these gift ideas.

Activity Days Out

There is huge potential for an exciting and unique day when you book an activity package. A number of companies offer one-day or weekend activities designed to help beginners try something completely new.

Here are a few activity gift ideas for dad:

* Driving race cars - perfect if your dad has always loved watching races,
* Off road driving,
* Traveling in a hot air balloon,
* Extreme water sports.

Whatever you choose, make sure you take your dad's interests and fitness levels into account. You may want to go climbing for the day, but your dad may not be up to it. The activity company will usually advise you on any prerequisites for the day.

New Experiences

Similar to the activities listed above, experience days can help you to learn something new, or try something you've always wanted to try, at an affordable price. You can usually find something your dad has always wanted to do. Here are a few ideas for you:

* Wine or whisky tasting,
* Fishing trips,
* Cooking courses,
* Horse riding,
* Flying lessons,
* Theatre shows,
* Pamper days at a spa (yes - they are suitable for men, too!)

A new experience doesn't have to be a package deal that you pay a specialist company for, either. Maybe your dad has been talking about a walk he wants to do in the local area, or maybe he's always wanted to visit a certain area of the country. You could even turn the experience into a longer trip together if you wanted to.

Homemade Gift Baskets

This may not seem as grand as the ideas mentioned above, but gift baskets can still make very unique gift ideas for dad if you put them together yourself and fill them with specific items you know he'll love. This could mean food, movies, beer, wine, cheese, chocolate or even things that he can use to pamper himself!

Coming up with unique gift ideas for dad does mean thinking outside the box when it comes to what he's interested in and what he might be interested in trying out. But it's well worth the time spent for a unique and memorable Father's Day!

6 Special Ideas For Father's Day Gifts From Baby

When your partner is celebrating his first Father's Day, it's always a cute idea to present him with a few different Father's Day gifts from baby. Here are 6 unique ideas for a memorable first Father's Day.

1) Hand And Feet Prints

As new parents, you're probably both amazed at just how quickly your little one is growing. Why not capture this age forever by creating foot and handprints and creating a unique picture to present to your partner on his first Father's Day? When you're looking at the prints together, you can take time to reflect on the journey you've been through as parents already.

2) An iPod With A Twist

Why not buy a new ipod for your partner and get it engraved? This is a free service when you order your iPod from Apple. Or you can go one step further and record some cute noises from baby to daddy! This is one of the best Father's Day gifts from baby if you want something personal combined with something he's really wanted for a while.

3) Digital Photos And Movies

This is an especially good idea if the baby's father isn't around as much as he'd like to be (for example, fathers who are serving overseas). Why not make some home movies of your baby in the weeks and months leading up to Father's Day? You can put them together and send them digitally, along with any other photographs you have of your baby.

4) Create Something Unique

Nowadays there are a number of services that will allow you to create your own ceramics, so why not take advantage and use impressions of your baby's feet and hands to create the perfect Father's Day gifts? These are completely unique and can be framed and treasured for years to come.

5) Family Photographs

Photographs always make good gifts, but they're even more special when your family is just starting out. If daddy is away then he'll appreciate the photograph even more. Some ideas include some photographs of mommy and baby for him to keep at his desk, or even a professional shoot arranged for daddy and baby for an artistic photograph.

6) Engraved Gifts

We mentioned earlier the idea of getting your ipod engraved from baby to daddy, but why not extend this to other items? This could mean watches, rings, even golf clubs! Engraving items adds that extra special touch and makes for a gift that will carry its meaning through the years.

These Father's Day gifts from baby will mean so much to any new father - they all help to capture the special moments and reinforce the bond between a father and his child.

Father's Day Gift Baskets: 5 Ideas For The Perfect Gift For Dad

Although they may not be as popular as their Mother's Day counterparts, Father's Day gift baskets can create a unique and memorable gift for your dad if you go about it the right way. Gift baskets shouldn't be considered too girly for men - on the contrary, gift baskets are available in a huge range of designs to suit his personality perfectly! Here are five unique ideas for you.

1) Sports Themed Gift Baskets

Is your dad into sports? If so then there are many pre-packaged Father's Day gift baskets suitable for him. In fact, these don't usually come in "baskets" at all, but in sports themed balls or boxes full to the brim with related goodies.

2) Gourmet Food

Men love food just as much as women, so why not put together or buy a gift basket full of his favorite treats? Cheese and wine gift baskets always go down well, or you could buy him a selection of luxury chocolates and a special liqueur. It's all about choosing what you know he likes, but also thinking of something that he doesn't normally eat every day - this is a treat, after all.

3) Movie Supplies

Why not put together a special movie night gift basket for dad? You could include a Netflix gift card - if you think he should choose what he wants to watch - or some DVDs and some special snacks ready for the perfect night in!

4) Games Night

You can even use Father's Day gift baskets as the perfect excuse to spend some quality time with your dad. Put together a basket filled with games, such as a mini chess set or a brand new pack of cards, some beers and some snacks and have a fun night in playing games together!

5) Anything Based Around His Favorite Hobby

This last idea for Father's Day gift baskets is a bit more vague - it means having a long think about what you could put together that's related to his favorite hobby.  For example, if he loves fishing then you could put together a special basket of supplies for a fishing weekend away, including his favorite drink and some new fishing accessories.  Or, if your dad loves to travel, why not put together a selection of treats from around the world? If there's a particular place that he loves visiting you could create a photo album and pair that with specialist food or other items from the area.

As you can see, Father's Day gift baskets can be a fantastic gift for dad if you consider exactly what he likes. Gift baskets aren't girly at all as long as you fill them with things that your dad will love!

Father's Day Crafts For Kids - 5 Top Ideas

If you want to encourage your kids to give unique gifts to their dad this year, then Father's Day crafts are a great way of doing that. The truth is that anything home made is going to hold a special place in his heart, so encourage them to show how much their dad means to them in creative ways. If you want some ideas to get started then here are a few for you.

Homemade Father's Day Cards

Father's Day crafts should always start with making a card for dad! Homemade cards are extra special during those early years when you're watching your kids' artistic skills develop. Get together some card and decorating supplies, such as pens, pencils, crayons, glitter, glue, fabric or even paint and they will create something totally unique.

Once the card has been made, help them to come up with a message. Depending on how old your child is, they may come up with a message themselves. If not, you can write a meaningful message yourself and get them to sign it at the end.

Picture Frames

Photos make a very personal gift for Father's Day, so why not make it even more personal by getting your kids to create the photo frames? You can either help them to make cardboard frames from scratch, or buy plain frames that they can decorate with paint and glued-on embellishments.

A Photo Collage

If you've got the means to print out your own photos from your digital camera then print out a variety and give them to your kids to create a collage. They can cut the photos up as they please (you've always got a spare copy on the computer!) and arrange them artistically into a collage. Frame the finished result to make this a presentable Father's Day gift.

Printable Crafts

If you're still stuck for ideas then head to the internet, as there are plenty of printable Father's Day crafts for kids (usually free). One idea is to print out a number of coupons and get your kids to decorate them. Come up with ideas together on what your kids could do for dad, such as helping to wash his car, spending time with him and so on. Present these to dad on Father's Day so that he can pick and choose which coupons he wants to use and when.

Father's Day Poems

While poems may not strictly count as Father's Day crafts, you can have a great time with your kids coming up with ideas for the poem and unique ways to present it once it's been written. This could mean performing the poem, recording it onto a new MP3 player for dad, making a home movie of the performance, or writing it on a specially presented piece of artwork!

Father's Day Gift Ideas For Dads Who Love To Cook

Does your dad love to cook? If so there are plenty of Father's Day gift ideas for you to choose from. Use an idea from this list and your dad will be grateful you bought a gift to suit his favorite hobby!

Barbecue Tools And Accessories

Men often gravitate toward the barbecue when it comes to cooking, and if your dad is the same then there are plenty of themed gifts for you to choose. Top of the range BBQ tools will always go down well or, if he already has them, you could get him a waist holder or apron to keep the tools within easy reach while he's cooking.

If you really want to push the boat out, why not buy him a new barbecue? If he already has one, then a portable model could be a good choice. Or you could finally get him that upgrade that he's been waiting for.

Knives

What manly chef doesn't appreciate a good sharp knife? There are plenty of Father's Day gift ideas revolving around the simple cook's knife, including a designer knife, a sharpening tool, or a knife block for him to store them in. Spending some time looking for good quality cook's knives can mean that your dad can get precise cuts that slice effortlessly through meat and vegetables.

Kitchen Gadgets

If your dad likes to experiment in the kitchen then he may have a need for a new kitchen gadget to help him get the job done faster. This could mean a powerful new Vita-Mix blender, some digital kitchen scales, a bread maker, ice cream maker or even a meat thermometer for those who love to roast and grill large chunks of meat!

Meat Smoking Tools

When it comes to unique Father's Day gift ideas for a dad who loves to cook, getting him everything he'll need to smoke meat/ fish is certainly a great choice. You could buy him a smoker cooker alongside a book all about how to smoke fish and and meat for that unbeatable flavor. This is an extra special gift if your dad loves to fish.

Other Food Related Gift Ideas

Of course, your Father's Day gift ideas don't have to be as grand as the ones listed above. A thoughtful gift could be as simple as a new recipe book by your dad's favorite chef. Or a personalized apron with a family photograph on the front, or even smaller kitchen tools such as whisks, mixing spoons and graters. In short, if he will use it and if he will like it, it makes a good gift idea!