Father’s Day

Father’s Day is celebrated around the world to honor fathers and father figures. While the date varies by country, many celebrate it on the third Sunday in June. For most countries, it is not a public holiday.

What Is Father’s Day?

Father’s Day is a special day to honor and appreciate fathers and father figures. It is a time to express gratitude for the men who offer love, guidance, and care for children.

Father figures can include biological fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, fathers-in-law, guardians (such as foster parents), male relatives, and family friends who play an important role in a child’s life.

Around the world, people celebrate this day to thank their dads and acknowledge the lasting impact fathers and father figures have on families and communities.

History of Father’s Day

The origins of Father’s Day can be traced back to the United States. In 1908, a woman named Grace Golden Clayton wanted to honor the fathers who had died in a tragic 1907 mining explosion in Monongah, West Virginia. The disaster claimed the lives of over 300 men, many of whom were fathers, prompting Clayton to request that her local church in nearby Fairmont, West Virginia, hold a service in their memory.

In 1909, inspired by a Mother’s Day sermon in Spokane, Washington, Sonora Smart Dodd proposed the idea of a national Father’s Day. Raised by her widowed father, Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, she believed fathers deserved similar recognition. With support from local churches and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), she helped organize the first Father’s Day in 1910.

Although the idea of Father’s Day gradually gained popularity throughout the United States, it was not formally recognized at the national level for many decades.

In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation designating the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. This recognition was solidified in 1972 when President Richard Nixon made it a permanent national observance in the US.

The celebration of Father’s Day gradually spread to other countries, particularly those with close cultural or historical ties to the United States.

When Is Father’s Day?

Father’s Day is not on the same day in every country. In the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, it is celebrated on the third Sunday of June.

Many other countries, including India, Mexico, South Africa, and France, also celebrate it on this day.

In Brazil, it’s on the second Sunday in August. This date was established in the 1950s to coincide with the feast of Saint Joachim, recognized in Catholic tradition as the father of the Virgin Mary and the patron saint of fathers and grandfathers.

Over in Australia and New Zealand, people celebrate Father’s Day on the first Sunday of September.

In Thailand, Father’s Day is on December 5, the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, making it a national holiday.

Find out when Father’s Day is in your country

Is Father’s Day a Public Holiday?

In most countries, Father’s Day is not a public or federal holiday. Since it usually falls on a Sunday, most government offices and businesses are already closed.

However, in countries like Thailand, it is a public holiday because it’s also the late King’s birthday. This reflects the Thai people’s respect and admiration for his lifelong dedication to the country.

What Do People Do on Father’s Day?

Many people spend time with their fathers or father figures on Father’s Day and express their appreciation for them. Some give Father’s Day gifts such as cards, clothes, tools, or gadgets. Others plan fun activities like barbecues, picnics, or sports games. For some families, it’s simply spending time together, talking, and enjoying each other’s company.

In Mexico, families celebrate “Día del Padre” with meals, gift-giving, and spending family time together. In South Africa, Father’s Day is often marked by family gatherings and community events that highlight the importance of fathers in raising children and helping build strong communities.

Symbols of Father’s Day

Father’s Day is a relatively modern holiday, so it doesn’t have strong traditional symbols.

While not a widely accepted theory, some believe that Father’s Day may have symbolic ties to ancient Sun worship. In many Pagan traditions, the Sun is seen as the “father” of the universe. Since the June solstice happens close to Father’s Day in many countries, some view this as a symbolic connection.