It’s Dad’s Day (but Mom Still Wears the Pants)

Happy Father’s Day, or, as it’s sometimes known, National Collect Call and Necktie Day.

This is the time of year when Americans pay loving tribute to dear old Dad by reversing the charges on phone calls home (it’s the No. 1 collect-calling day of the year) and by showering him with an estimated 8 million neckties sold for the occasion.

In short, Father’s Day doesn’t command quite the same level of respect as Mother’s Day. As the accompanying chart shows, moms collect more greeting cards, more restaurant meals, more calls and more loot.

Even Congress granted mothers higher priority. In 1914, it officially established Mother’s Day as the second Sunday in May. A day honoring dads took another two years to materialize, and still came later in the year, on the third Sunday of June.

Contrary to common belief, neither day was founded for commercial reasons. Both occasions were originally celebrated by churches at the behest of individuals who simply wanted to honor their parents.

The idea for Mother’s Day is often attributed to Anna M. Jarvis of Philadelphia. And Father’s Day has been credited to both Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Wash., and Jessica Clayton of Fairmont, W.Va.

AT&T; and the American Neckwear Assn. are eternally grateful.

Phone Calls

Mother’s Day: 155 million calls

Father’s Day: 140 million calls

Did You Know?: Father’s Day has more collect calls than any other day. Holiday long-distance calls average about three minutes longer than other calls.

Greeting Card Sales

Mother’s Day: 150 million

Father’s Day: 95 million

Did You Know?: Young adults are stingy with Father’s Day cards: 18- to 26-year-olds account for just 5% of all card sales versus 55% from 27- to 40-year-olds, 20% from children, 16% from 41- to 55-year-olds and 4% from ages 56 and older.

Dining Out

Mother’s Day: 38% of adults eat out

Father’s Day: 23% of adults eat out

Did You Know?: Mother’s Day even tops Valentine’s Day for restaurant dining.

Top Gifts

Mother’s Day: Clothing

Father’s Day: Neckties

Did You Know?: In a recent Hammacher Schlemmer contest to find the weirdest Father’s Day gifts, winners included a case of dynamite to blow up a stubborn tree stump (it also blew out the windows of the house), a cow castration device and a sculpture of Dad’s head (including his pipe) made of chopped liver.

Flowers

Mother’s Day: 23% of all holiday floral sales

Father’s Day: Not even on the chart

Did You Know?: Men are statistically more likely to get flowers at their than for Father’s Day.

*

Sources: AT&T;, Hallmark, National Retail Federation, Neckwear Assn. of America, National Restaurant Assn., Society of American Florists.