Father's day honors fatherhood and the contribution of fathers to the society. The day celebrates father figures, among them biological fathers, stepfathers, foster fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers. In the US, the day is observed on the third Sunday of June every year. The Father's Day weekend is usually full of celebrations as families treat their fathers to lunches and trips.
History of Father's Day
The idea of Father's Day can be traced back to 1910. It is believed that Mrs. Sanora Smart Dodd is the brain behind this day. Sanora, along with her five siblings were brought up by his father after their mother died in childbirth. His father neither remarried nor placed his children under the care of others.
Because of this, Dodd was grateful to his father, William Jackson Smart-a civil war veteran, and he wanted to honor him.
Her noble idea of Father's Day came about after hearing a sermon about Mother's day by Anna Jarvis at Central Methodist Episcopal Church. She later approached her pastor and proposed there be a day honoring fathers, which would mirror Mother's Day. Dodd proposed to have Father's Day observed in June, which happened to be his father's birthday month.
In 1913, Congress received a bill aiming at recognizing Father's Day. In 1916, Congress rejected the move to have the day made official for fear that it would become just another commercialized holiday. However, the campaign to have Father's Day recognized as a federal holiday went on for many years.
In 1966, many men left their families to fight in World War II. It is during this time that the fathers' contribution to families was felt. President Lyndon B Johnson issued a proclamation designating Father's Day USA to be observed on the third Sunday in June. In 1972, President Richard Nixon signed it into law as a permanent national holiday.
Today, different people across the globe join hands to send inspiring Father's Day messages using the hashtag #fathersday on social media.
Father's Day or Father's Day
Although the holiday honors all father figures, the day is known by its singular possessive, that is, Father's Day.
Is Father's Day a Federal Holiday?
Father's Day is officially recognized in the US, but it is not a federal holiday. Government offices, organizations, businesses, and banks remain open. The public transit system also operates as usual. Hotels and restaurants tend to be busier as families treat their fathers on this day.
How to Celebrate Father's Day?
Since Father's Day is a comparatively modern holiday, different families celebrate it in different ways. Traditionally, cards and masculine gifts are given out. Some of the Father's Day gift ideas include sporting gear, gadgets, and tools for household maintenance.
Prior to Fathers' Day, you can help your children prepare handmade cards and gifts for their fathers. You could also hold a large party or a BBQ to honor all the father figures in your extended family. If your dad is still alive, wish him a happy Father's Day by spending the holiday together doing some of his favorite activities. If he loves Baseball, attend one with him since the holiday occurs in the midst of the Baseball season.
As for all the fathers out there, think of taking the President's Fatherhood Pledge.
Are There Alternative Days for Father's Day?
Countries like the US, UK, France, Cyprus, South Africa, Greece, Japan, Canada, Netherlands, and South Arabia observe the holiday on the third Sunday of June. However, some countries mark the day on an entirely different date.
- Russia celebrates the day on 23rd February
- Italy, Portugal, and Spain on 19th March
- Switzerland on the first Sunday in June
- Austria and Belgium on the second Sunday in June
- Australia and New Zealand on the first Sunday of September
- Germany on 30th May which is also the Ascension Day to Christians
- Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan mark the day on the first day of Summer
- Many Scandinavian countries celebrate it on the second Saturday of November
Father's Day Quotes and Facts
- There are 79 million fathers in the US, 29 million of them being grandfathers
- Pope John XXIII once said, “It is easier for a father to have children than for children to have a real father.”
- According to Hallmark- A Greetings Card Company, Father's Day is ranked the fifth-largest card-sending holiday
When is Father's Day 2023?
Father's Day 2023 is on Sunday, June 18, 2023 (in 258 days). Calendar for 2023
Father's Day 2022 has already passed: it was on Sunday, June 19, 2022 (106 days ago). Calendar for 2022
What is Father's Day?
Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Father's Day complements Mother's Day, Parents' Day and Grandparents' Day.
Father's Day around the world
In many countries Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June, among them the USA, Canada, the UK, France, India, China, Japan, the Philippines and South Africa. However, it is also widely celebrated on other days, for example on February 23rd (Russia, Defender of the Fatherland Day), March 19th (as Festa del Pap� in Italy, Dia do Pai in Portugal and D�a del Padre in Spain), Ascension Day (Germany), the first Sunday in June (Switzerland), the second Sunday in June (Austria and Belgium), June 21st, the first day of summer (Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan & Syria), the first Sunday of September (Australia, New Zealand) and the second Saturday of November (many Scandinavian countries). For a complete overview of the dates of Father's Day around the world see Father's Day on Wikipedia.
Although the name of the event is usually understood as a plural possessive (i.e. "day belonging to fathers"), which would under normal English punctuation guidelines be spelled "Fathers' Day" (not "Fathers Day"), the most common spelling is "Father's Day", as if it were a singular possessive (i.e. "day belonging to Father").
References & Resources:
- National Center for Fathering
- History of Father's Day on history.com
- Father's Day in the United States on Wikipedia
When is Father's Day 2024?
Father's Day 2024 is on Sunday, June 16, 2024 (in 622 days). Calendar for 2024
Dates for Father's Day from 2018 to 2028
The next occurrence of Father's Day is marked in red.
| When is ...? | Date | Day of the week | Days away |
| Father's Day 2018 | June 17, 2018 | Sunday | 1569 days ago |
| Father's Day 2019 | June 16, 2019 | Sunday | 1205 days ago |
| Father's Day 2020 | June 21, 2020 | Sunday | 834 days ago |
| Father's Day 2021 | June 20, 2021 | Sunday | 470 days ago |
| Father's Day 2022 | June 19, 2022 | Sunday | 106 days ago |
| Father's Day 2023 | June 18, 2023 | Sunday | in 258 days |
| Father's Day 2024 | June 16, 2024 | Sunday | in 622 days |
| Father's Day 2025 | June 15, 2025 | Sunday | in 986 days |
| Father's Day 2026 | June 21, 2026 | Sunday | in 1357 days |
| Father's Day 2027 | June 20, 2027 | Sunday | in 1721 days |
| Father's Day 2028 | June 18, 2028 | Sunday | in 2085 days |
Data provided 'as is' without warranty |
Dates of Father's Day 2023 and surrounding years as downloadable image file
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