Father’s Day takes place on 20th June 2021. It’s an annual tradition that gets celebrated in the UK and many countries across the world. The date changes each year because it always falls on the third Sunday of June. Father’s Day is a common calendar occurrence, but this wasn’t always the case. We decided it worth exploring how Father’s Day came to be and how people still celebrate it.
History of Father’s Day
The history of Father’s Day dates all the way back to 1508. Catholic Europeans would celebrate fatherhood with a feast. Fast forward to West Virginia, USA in 1909. Sonora Smart Dodd wanted a day to mark fathers. She had been raised by a single father, alongside five brothers, after her mother died in childbirth. She started a campaign to celebrate fathers in 1910, thinking they deserved their own day. Millions of Americans agreed and started celebrating in June. Decades later, in 1972, President Richard Nixon made it a permanent national celebration. The UK had followed suit by that point.
Traditional Gifts
Father’s Day is a time to show gratitude for dads and thank them for everything they do. While each dad is different, here in the UK there are traditional gifts for Father’s Day. These are the kind of gifts that fit into your classic ‘dad’ culture. For clothing – think ties, slippers and socks. Or for kitchen goods, think pint glasses, mugs, or maybe some barbecue equipment. It’s also tradition to write a card for Father’s Day, giving a person the chance to say just how much their dad means to them.
Ways to Celebrate
Each family in the UK will have their own traditions for celebrating Father’s Day. For some, they will use the day to get out into the countryside. Others prefer to have a family meal. As Father’s Day always falls on a Sunday, a roast dinner is a popular meal choice for lots of families. For others, it’s a laid-back affair and a visit to the pub for a couple of pints is the perfect way to spend the day. Father’s Day celebrations will depend on what the dad is like, and how he wants to mark the occasion.
Around the World
There are different Father’s Day traditions around the world. Each country has its own unique way of honouring fathers. For instance, in Japan, flowers play a huge part in the day. In South Africa, it’s common for families to celebrate the day with a picnic or by going fishing. Brazilians host all-you-can-eat barbecues.
Of course, fathers can be celebrated any time of the year, but you’ll find that lots of people still agree with Sonora Smart Dodd. Fathers deserve their own day. What does your family do for Father’s Day?