The purpose of Father’s Day is to let dads know just how much they are appreciated. For one day out of the year, it’s dad’s day. But how did this day come about and how has it changed over the years? Here are some interesting facts about Father’s Day.

Fact 1: Father’s day was introduced into our culture by Sonora Dodd in 1910. She got the idea after listening to a Mother’s Day service in her local church.

Fact 2: Father’s Day was first celebrated in Spokane, Washington, and was popular there for decades before it became well known throughout the United States.

Fact 3: Dodd’s father raised his seven daughters all by himself after their mother died in childbirth.

Fact 4: Dodd wanted Father’s Day to be celebrated on June 5th as it was her father’s birthday but the Spokane Ministerial Alliance decided the 3rd Sunday in June would be Father’s Day.

Fact 5: Over the years, Father’s Day gained recognition from Jennings Bryan, Woodrow Wilson, and Calvin Coolidge. The public were slow to support it, however, as they thought of it as only another meaningless holiday.

Fact 6: Father’s Day is now celebrated in 52 countries, including Britain, Australia and NZ.

Fact 7: National Father’s Day in Thailand is also the King’s birthday. To celebrate, the country uses fireworks and participates in acts of kindness and charity, like giving blood.

Fact 8: Father’s Day earns retailers more money every year than Mother’s Day because there is a wider range of gifts available for dads than moms.

Fact 9: The number one TV dad of all time is Cliff Huxtable from the Cosby show.

Fact 10: There are an estimated 70 million dads in the United States.