Common tern father with chick, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, New York
© Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Getty Image
Dad on duty. Father's Day
Father's Day may seem like the natural complement to Mothering Day, but this wasn't always the case. The paternal version of this parental holiday was first proposed by Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, USA. She believed fathers should have their own celebration, perhaps motivated by the inaugural US Mother's Day of 1908. Father's Day was first celebrated in 1910 and recognised by President Woodrow Wilson six years later. It fell out of popular practice in the 1920s but eventually regained popularity—partially due to marketing—worldwide, including the UK. Our father figures, much like the common tern papa in today's image, work hard to provide us with support and guidance. Both tern parents build the nest and incubate the eggs.