Father's Day is a day to remember and pay tribute to our fathers and to celebrate the contributions they have made to our lives. Over 75% of American families celebrate Father's Day. It is traditionally observed on the third Sunday in June. Most adults visit or call their dads on Father's Day. Others buy cards and gifts, while young children make crafts in school and draw homemade cards. Some take dads out on a special outing. Some organize huge parties or barbeques, honoring all fathers in an extended family, such as stepfathers, fathers-in-law, grandfathers, husbands, brothers, uncles, friends, and sons who are fathers themselves.
Here are the top gift categories listed for dads in order from most popular to least: clothing, jewelry and accessories, gift cards, books or CDs, electronic gadgets, personal care, sporting goods, home improvement items, outdoor cooking supplies, and automotive accessories. Most average their spending with over $115 per person. Young adults, ages 26-35, with more disposable income, will spend over $160 on Father's Day gifts, while ages 36-55 will spend less, about $85, and those over 65 usually spend even less, just slightly over $70 per person. Over 30% shoppers choose to buy their gifts online, with that trend growing every year as more people become comfortable using the internet.
Believe it or not, the tradition to celebrate Father's Day originated from Mother's Day. When Anna Jarvis pushed and advocated for Mother's Day to become a national holiday in the early 1900's, some felt that Father's Day deserved recognition too. A woman named Sonora Smart Dodd from Spokane, Washington, is credited for the establishment of Father's Day in America. After her mother died, her father raised all six children by himself. That was highly uncommon at that time, with most widowers placing the children in the care of other female relatives or remarrying. Sonora couldn't celebrate Mother's Day, but felt that her father deserved just as much credit and his own day of celebration. She launched a campaign of her own by appealing to local churches, politicians, and wealthy businessmen. Her efforts did not go unnoticed and her own Washington State celebrated the country's first Father's Day on July 19, 1910.
Around that time, on July 5, 1908, Williams Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South, now known as Central United Methodist Church in West Virginia held a special Sunday sermon to commemorate the 362 men, many of them fathers, who had died in the previous December's mining accident at Fairmont Coal Company mines in Monongah, West Virginia. Pastor Robert Thomas Webb decided to hold that sermon for the thousand children that now became fatherless. That was the nation's first public gathering held specifically to commemorate fathers.
After the first Father's Day public sermon in West Virginia, the holiday spread rather gradually. Many men were initially against gift-giving on Father's Day, because they argued that the gifts were bought with their own money. In 1913 a bill was presented to Congress to make Father's Day into a national holiday, however, Congress rejected it, in fear of it being commercialized. President Wilson paid tribute to Father's Day in 1916 by unfurling the American flag and speaking at Spokane's Father's Day celebration, and in 1924 President Coolidge advised individual state governments to observe Father's Day.
During the 1920's and 1930's a new movement arose that urged Americans to replace Mother's Day and Father's Day with a single holiday, called Parents' Day. They argued that "both parents should be loved and respected together"". Every year on Mother's Day these pro-Parents' Day groups rallied in NYC's Central Park, but the idea never took off. During the great depression many merchants tirelessly fought and marketed to make Father's Day into a ""second Christmas"" to help the already sluggish and stagnant sales. And after WWII, Father's Day celebrations took on a whole new meaning. It was now a celebration of all the men that came home alive to their families. But it wasn't until 1972 during President Nixon's campaign for re-election that a proclamation was issued making Father's Day a national holiday at last."
Many countries around the world celebrate Father's Day, although on different dates. However, most traditions are the same, involving calling or visiting dads, buying or making cards, buying gifts and inviting dads out to eat. Many families around the world also celebrate other paternal figures, such as uncles, grandfathers, stepfathers, and godfathers. Read below to see when your country celebrates this important holiday.
Most countries celebrate Father's Day on the third Sunday in June, such as the U.S., the U.K., France, the Netherlands, Canada, Japan, and many others. Countries like Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Sweden celebrate it on the first Sunday in September. Countries that have been heavily influenced by the Catholic Church, such as Spain, Portugal, Italy, Honduras, Bolivia, and Belgium observe Father's Day on March 19th, which is St. Joseph's Day.
Thailand observes Father's Day on December 5th, which is the birthday of their king, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. On that day the king traditionally gives a speech, and most people light a white candle in honor and support of their king. Thai children customarily give their fathers and grandfathers the Canna flower, which has a masculine connotation.
The Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Finland, Norway, Estonia, and Iceland celebrate Father's Day on the second Sunday in November. They used to celebrate it on the third Sunday in June, like the U.S., but in 1949 have voted to move it to the second half of the year in order to improve sales before Christmas.
Germany observes Father's Day, or Vatertag, on Ascension Thursday, which is 40 days after Easter. On that day, the German men customarily go on hikes, bringing with them food and alcohol, or attend social gatherings which are full of food and alcohol.
Taiwan celebrates Father's Day on August 8th, because the number 8 in Chinese is "ba"", and the word for daddy is ""ba-ba"", so Father's Day is on the eighth day of the eighth month. China used to celebrate Father's Day on August 8th too, before it was moved to the third Sunday in June to be in line with most western countries."
Russia celebrates Father's Day on February 23rd, which evolved from the Defender of the Fatherland Day. This day used to commemorate the Russian armed forces, but now has been extended to all men, including fathers, much like the International Women's Day for women.
Brazil celebrates Father's Day on the second Sunday in August, in honor of St. Joachim, the father of Virgin Mary.
