In the UK, Father’s Day is on Sunday 16th June, this year.
Many of us will be planning a day of celebration in honour of our dads, step-dads, granddads, the fathers of our children and other male figures in our lives.
However, do you know how or where the tradition began?
It is believed that the origins of Father's Day started in 1910, in the US. When her mother died during childbirth, Sonora Smart Dodd was left to help her father in raising five younger siblings, including the newborn baby. She was just 16. Sonora wanted a proper holiday to recognise dads, similar to the growing popularity of Mother's Day.
Initially, she planned for the celebration to be on her father’s birthday – 5th June – however, it was decided, by religious leaders, that annual Father’s Day celebrations should be held on the third Sunday in June - which is how the date is dictated still to this day.
Father's Day celebrations are important in the US, as well as in the UK and there are also unique traditions in different countries, across the world.
Let's find out more and see if they inspire something a little different to celebrate your Father's Day this year...
Germany
Celebrated on Ascension Day (40 days after Easter), Father’s Day or Männertag is a public holiday in Germany, which can be traced back to the 18th Century.
German fathers do not celebrate the day with their children; instead, it was customary for the fathers to participate in men-only mountain walks, in which they drag small wagons filled with alcohol and traditional German foods to celebrate in the woods with their friends!
Say it in German - Alles Gute zum Vatertag! or Frohen Vatertag
Mexico
Each year on the third Sunday in June, Mexican families take to the streets to honour their fathers, granddads, brothers or uncles in a show of respect to the father figures in their lives.
The annual Carrera Día del Padre 21K Bosque de Tlalpan half marathon is held in Mexico City and families participate in several activities honouring dads throughout the day, including a famous father and son race.
Following the day’s festivities, carnival-like parties are held in the streets with traditional Mexican food, music and dancing.
Say it in Spanish - Feliz día del padre
Thailand
In Thai culture, the late monarch King Bhumibol Adulyade is considered the father of the nation, and as such Father’s Day in Thailand falls on his birthday - 5th December.
Traditionally, the people of Thailand would dress in yellow on Father’s Day. However, following a steady decline in his health, many Thai people chose to wear pink in honour of the ailing king. In Thai culture, pink is considered an auspicious colour that promotes good health, and, consequently, people have adopted the tradition of wearing pink on Father’s Day.
Traditionally, Thai children gift their fathers and grandfathers with Canna Lilies - considered in Thailand to be a masculine flower.
Say it in Thai - สุขสันต์วันพ่อ (Sook-san-wan-por)
Brazil
In 1953, Brazilian publicist Sylvio Bhering introduced Father’s Day to Brazil as a means of creating a new holiday aimed at consumers. The following year, Father’s Day was celebrated in Brazil on the second Sunday of August (the date on which it is still celebrated today) to honour St Joachim, father of Mary and patron saint of fathers and grandfathers.
Brazilian fathers are honoured with gifts of food and drink and are often celebrated with big all-you-can-eat barbecues, known as churrasco.
Say it in Portuguese - Feliz dia dos pais!
Nepal
As with all cultural festivals in Nepal, Father’s Day or Gokarna Aunsi is based on the lunar calendar and falls on the dark fortnight in either late August or early September.
Besides the traditional gifts of food, children perform a spiritual ritual in which the sons will touch their father’s feet with their heads and daughters will touch their father’s hands with their heads.
In Nepal, those without fathers traditionally complete pilgrimages to pray to the Hindu deity Shiva and perform the Hindu ritual of Sraddha, wherein they honour their deceased loved ones with offerings of food.
Say it in Nepali - पिता दिवसको शुभकामना (Pitā divasakō śubhakāmanā)
Japan
Known as 父の日(Chichi no hi), the Japanese celebrate Father’s Day on the 21st of June.
Traditionally marked with a meal of seafood, Father’s Day is seen as an opportunity for children to thank their fathers for their hard work throughout the year. Traditional gifts include luxury food items such as Wagyu beef and sake, as well as small, meaningful, home-made gifts of origami, wine and beer glasses or sweets.
Say it in Japanese -幸せな父親の日 (Shiawasena chichioya no hi)
Australia
Held halfway between International Mother’s Day and Christmas due to an absence of holidays around this time of year, and to avoid ‘holiday fatigue’; Australian Father’s Day is celebrated on the first day of spring – the first Sunday in September!
Thanks to its placement within the warmer months, Australian dads typically celebrate with picnics in the park or trips to the beach. It’s estimated that Australians spend over $660 million on Father’s Day every year!
New Zealand
Although New Zealanders share their Father’s Day with their Aussie neighbours, this has not always been the case!
The first recorded Father’s Day in New Zealand was celebrated at St Matthews Church, Auckland on 14th July 1929.
After getting off to a slow start, the celebrations began to become popular among New Zealanders during the Second World War as many fathers were away fighting with no guarantee of their return.
Today, Father’s Day in New Zealand is celebrated with family meals and the giving of gifts.
Celebrating Father's Day wherever you are
The most important element of Father's Day is showing how much you care. It's a day to spend together and make every dad feel extra special. We hope some of the above traditions may have inspired you to do something a little different for your dad this year.
We understand that it is not always easy for families to be together, so a video call and gift delivered in the post can still be the next best thing...and it still means a chance to truly delight your dad on this special day.
For inspiration, take a look at our full Father's Day range which can be delivered in the UK, from abroad.
Explore our Father's Day Gift Hampers
If you know Dad's favourite tipple or foodie favourites, then take a look at some of our classic content ranges too:
