On the third Sunday in June, families in nations worldwide collect to honor their fathers. Traditionally, Dads are honored with gifts and celebratory meals. Though Father’s Day has been an American tradition for many families over the last hundred years, the first national observation was not held until 1972.

Ms. Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington was the driving force behind the Father’s Day concept. The idea came to her after listening to a Mother’s Day sermon at church in 1909. Smart, who had been raised by her father William, felt that there should be a holiday equal to Mother’s Day in honor of our country’s dads.

A number of United States presidents were involved in the official marking of Father’s Day, dating back to the term of Calvin Coolidge. President Coolidge recommended Father’s Day be added to the national calendar in 1924, but it wasn’t until 1966, during the presidency of Lyndon Johnson, that the holiday warranted another presidential glance. Johnson recommended the third Sunday in June as the holidays observation date, and Richard Nixon solidified the commemoration in 1972, when the holiday was made official. Though Father’s Day is celebrated by the government in June, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates on March 19^th, on the Feast of St. Joseph.

Like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day has become a strongly commercialized date. Card companies, tool and electronic retailers, and home improvement stores have adopted advertising campaigns to suit gifts for dads. Buying your dad a gift he has been wanting can be a great way to treat him on Father’s Day. It would also be a thoughtful gesture to make him a card or gift by hand, school programs typically facilitate children’s crafts to honor their fathers.

Father’s Day comes with a host of typical presents: ties, cards, and cakes among them. If you feel that you’ve exhausted all of these options before, it could be time for a fancier gift. If you have a little extra money and time to expend on your Father’s Day present this year, it may be time to consider less conventional options.

One idea may be to take Dad on a weekend trip. Discount airlines like Skybus, Jetblue, and Southwest offer special fares on a regular basis, and can offer excellent prices for a one or two-night getaway! If he’s the touristy, big-city type, consider taking him for dinner in New York, historic site-seeing in Boston, fishing in Seattle, or beachcombing in Miami. If Dad enjoys the simpler life, drive or fly to a favorite camping spot or hunting locale. Getting out of town for a few days can be a great way to relax.

If your dad is in need of some pampering, consider treating him to men’s spa services. Many spas offer services catered to a male audience; these include sports massages, microdermabrasion, and brow care. If Dad feels uncomfortable going by himself, consider purchasing a father/daughter or husband/wife package. Going with him could allow for some relaxing quality time together.

Vintage wine or craft beer makes a nice gift for this sort of occasion. As a leading example for beer, Sam Adams brewery sells the Utopias label in copper bottles for $100 apiece. Wine labels like Petrus Pomerol (1998, $1,459) are excellent collectors items, and would make a solid addition to the wine case of any connoisseur. Cigars and humidors also make unique treats. Sports tickets make the perfect gift for the dad who enjoys a game day experience. For the NFL, NBA, or a PGA tournament, tickets can start at $50 and range well into the hundreds. If your dad is an enthusiast or avid fan, tickets are easy to purchase online, and would make a great present.

The term it’s the thought that counts may sound cheesy, but it’s often true in the case of Father’s Day presents. No matter how much you choose to spend on Dad’s gift, coming up with something thoughtful and unique is of utmost importance.

On Father’s Day, the decision of what to give Dad for a gift can be daunting! Some popular presents like electronics or tools can be expensive, so here are some thoughtful, low-budget gifts you might consider.

There are lots of ways to dress up family photos for dad’s wallet, desk, or wall space. If you are preparing a gift for your husband, this could be prime time to dress up the kids and have a photo shoot in the yard! If the gift is for your own father, consider getting together with your siblings for a group picture. Beautiful but inexpensive frames are widely available at craft and department stores.

Free yard work is a treat for many dads, and taking over the chores for a day or a week will give him the chance to relax! If you don’t have the funds to hire professional landscapers, no need to worry you can take on weeding, mowing, and mulching yourself. Treat dad to lemonade in the hammock while you work.

There is an old saying that claims the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.  This claim is often true! On Father’s Day, surprise Dad with his favorite meal or dessert item. By making something at home, you can show that you not only pay attention to his preferences, but that you’ve put time into preparing his favorites yourself!

Crafts are a sentimental gift, and school programs often provide children with the time and resources to make them. If you are an adult, consider knitting, potting, welding, or building something for your father. He’ll be proud to see your talents put to use in his honor!

No matter what gift you give your dad on Father’s Day, he will appreciate a present given from the heart. Don’t stress if you can’t afford a full set of power tools or the newest high-tech MP3 player; remember that oftentimes the best Father’s Day presents are homemade.

1. A Personalized Tie. Thanks to modern technology, ties can make a unique and exciting Father’s Day present! For Dads with young children or grandchildren, a photograph tie could be perfect. Retailers like Snapfish.com and Wal-Mart provide photo-uploading services over the Internet, allowing you to design a custom tie from home. Photo-ties generally cost between $20 and $30, and for the business professional, can offer a break from the usual accessory wardrobe. For more traditional dads, retailers like Joseph A. Bank provide a wide selection of plain and patterned ties for your gift-giving needs.

2. A Photograph Gift. By the same virtue, pictures aren’t just for albums anymore. Slap Dad’s favorite family photo on a mug, mouse pad, luggage tag, keychain, coasters, virtually anything at Shutterfly.com. These pictures, as with those used for photo ties, can be uploaded directly from your home or office computer. For an adorable twist on this project, have your child draw a picture for Dad. Using a scanner, save the drawing as a photo file to your computer. Then, you can have the drawing printed on any number of things. You can even design a calendar, with a different drawing for every month of the year!

3. Grilling Tools. For the traditional Grill-Master Dad, aprons and grill tools make fantastic gifts. With Father’s Day taking place in June, he’ll have the rest of the summer to put his gifts to good use! Williams-Sonoma and Brookstone both offer comprehensive lines of nonstick cooking tools; other accessories for the grill, as well as grills themselves are available at The Home Depot and Lowes.

4. Gadgets. For the technology guru, electronics make a good gift. MP3 players, digital picture frames, and DVDs are all safe bets, and easy to find at major electronic stores or online.  If Dad is a fan of the spirits how about a Thermoelectric 5 Liter Beer Dispenser.

5. Sports Equipment or Memorabilia. Whether your dad likes golf, football, basketball or baseball college or professional leagues sports-centric gifts are both plentiful and easy to find. If your dad has a favorite team, consider buying him tickets to a game or even season passes! Team apparel is often available in a wide range of sizes, and posters or framed photos make great wall hangings for his office or game room. Autographed balls or trading cards are easy to find via online auction sites like Ebay. If Dad is an avid golf player, tees or clubs may be a good idea; for the school coach or backyard enthusiast, footballs or a baseball and bat make a thoughtful present.

6. A Nice Dinner (in or out)! Cooking Dad’s favorite foods can show that you care. Even if his tastes are simple, indulge his craving for Hamburger Helper or green bean casserole. If your family would like to celebrate more formally, treat him to dinner and dessert at his favorite restaurant.

7. Magazine Subscriptions can make an inexpensive gift that last well beyond Father’s Day. Sports Illustrated and Mens Health are two popular mens magazines. For the conscious investor, consider Smart Money or The Economist; there are also magazines that appeal to a specific professional field, like Landscape Architecture and Fire Engineering. With thousands of magazines available, it shouldn’t be hard to find something to suit his tastes.

8. Fulfill His Domestic Dream. If your dad, grandpa, or husband has been begging for a dog, maybe Father’s Day will be the occasion to give him one. Maybe it’s time to replace the television, or perhaps he would like a wine cooler in the kitchen. Throwing out his old lawn mower and buying him a new one could make his chores in the yard less stressful. Setting up a hammock in the back yard could give Dad a nice place to relax! If the dad in your life has been asking for something, Father’s Day could be an occasion to grant his wish.

9. Handmade Coupons. For a gift that is slightly more home-grown, make Dad a batch of redeemable coupons that he can use at any time. One Poker Night could give him a free pass for an evening with the boys. Offer to take over some of his chores anything from mowing the lawn to taking out the trash or give some extra affection by writing coupons for one kiss or one hug.

10. A Special Dessert. Plenty of Dads have a sweet tooth, and Father’s Day makes a great time to surprise him with cake or his favorite pie! Serve up a cobbler, sundae, or brownies to celebrate the occasion.