All About Father’s Day – Father’s Day History & Interesting Facts

Father's Day is celebrated around the world to honor all dads who raise up their children with passion, commitment, and love. It's celebrated in many different ways in different countries. The occasion is marked by giving a Father's Day gift to one’s father or spending time with him. It is a time set aside to value a father’s role in one’s life and to reflect upon paternal bonding.

When Is Father’s Day? 

Father’s Day is officially celebrated on the third Sunday in June. In 2022, it’s Sunday, June 19th.

What's The Story Behind The Name "Father's Day"?

Let's take a look back at Father's Day history and find out the origin of it.

The person who invented the concept of Father’s Day is Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd from Spokane, Washington whose mom died in childbirth and her father had raised his six children all by himself. Dodd was at a church service thinking about how grateful she was for her father when she came up with an idea of celebrating Father’s Day, which would be similar to Mother’s Day but celebrated in June – her dad’s birthday month. 

Originally Dodd named the holiday Fathers’ Day (in plural possessive form), because it was “a day belonging to all fathers.” Somewhere along the way, the punctuation was changed and the holiday is now known as “Father’s Day” (in singular possessive form).

What Are Some Interesting Facts About Father's Day?

1. There are over 1,5 milliard fathers around the world. 

2. The first Father’s Day celebration was on June 19, 1910 in Spokane, Washington. 

3. It wasn’t until 1972 that Father’s Day became an official national holiday in U.S. when president Nixon signed it into law. 

4. Now Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June in over 50 countries around the world.

5. There are over 70.1 million dads in the U.S. About a third of them are married with kids under 18.

6. More than 214,000 American men are stay-at-home dads. 

7. The Latin word for “father” is Patri which is the root of many words, including patriarch, patrilineal, patrician, Patrick, patriot, patron, and patronize.

8. Father’s Day is the fourth-biggest day for sending gifts – after Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.

9. About 80% of post-WWII children grew up with two biological married parents.

10. 24 American children live without their biological fathers. This is about 35%.

How do people celebrate Father's Day around the world?

United States, Canada, and United Kingdom

While Mother's Day is celebrated on different dates in the United States and the United Kingdom, Father's Day always falls on the third Sunday in June in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. This year, the holiday will be celebrated with cards and Father's Day gifts on Sunday, June 19, in all three countries.

Australia and New Zealand

In Australia and New Zealand, Father's Day is celebrated on the first day of Spring, which in those countries is the first Sunday of September. It's said that these two countries chose September because the time when much of the world observes Father's Day was already too full of holidays. The day is typically spent showering Dad with cards and gifts in much the same way we do in America.

Argentina

Father’s day in Argentina is celebrated on the third Sunday of June. However, there have been many unsuccessful attempts to change the date to August 24th when the first child of Jose de San Martin, the “Father of the Nation”, was born. 

Denmark

In Denmark Father’s Day is celebrated on June 5th. It coincides with Constitution Day, which is a public holiday celebrating the signing of the Danish constitution of 1849. 

Germany

Father’s Day in Germany also referred to as “Gentlemen’s day” is annually celebrated on Ascension Day which is the Thursday forty days after Easter. Traditionally, men celebrate it together by drinking lots of alcohol and pulling a wagon around town.

Brazil

Brazilian Father's Day is observed on the second Sunday in August (this year on Sunday, August 8) in honor of St. Joachim, the father of the virgin Mary in the Christian tradition. Children spend the day writing Father's Day cards and letters with words of thanks to their dads and father figures.

Spain, Portugal, and Italy

Many Roman Catholic countries, including Spain, Portugal, and Italy, celebrate Father's Day on the Feast of St. Joseph, an annual religious holiday that honors Joseph of Nazareth, Jesus' father. The holiday is celebrated on March 19 each year, and in addition to church services, the day is celebrated with gifts and cards for Dad.

Sweden, Norway, and Iceland

Most Scandanavian countries celebrate Father's Day (or Fars Dag) on the second Sunday in November: This year their Father's Day falls on Sunday, November 7. The tradition originally came from the American Father's Day observance and was celebrated in June, but businesses advocated for the holiday to be moved to November, a typically slow month for the economy. Because of this, Father's Day gifts are custom, as is a weekend spent celebrating with family.

Russia

Russia's Father's Day began as a military celebration, which then became a holiday dedicated to men. Over time, the celebration of men has evolved into the country's modern Father's Day. Because of its military roots, the holiday is known as Defender of the Fatherland Day. and is celebrated annually on February 23rd with parades that many of the men participate in.

Thailand

In Thailand Father’s Day is celebrated on the same day as the birthday of the King, beloved by all Thai people. Thais celebrate the holiday by giving their father or grandfather a Canna flower, which is considered to be a masculine flower in Thailand. There is also a tradition of wearing yellow on this day (the official color of King’s birthday). 

Sources:

https://www.bhg.com/holidays/fathers-day/fathers-day-around-the-world/
https://www.rd.com/article/history-of-fathers-day/