Father's Day is a day set aside for honoring one's father, as well as fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. "Father's Day" complements similar celebrations honoring family members, such as Mother's Day and, in some countries, Siblings Day, Children's Day, and Grandparents' Day. The day is held on various dates across the world, and different regions maintain their own traditions of honoring fatherhood.
In Catholic countries of Europe, it has been celebrated on 19 March as Saint Joseph's Day since the Middle Ages. In the United States, Father's Day was founded in the state of Washington by Sonora Smart Dodd in 1910. Father's Day is a recognized public holiday in Lithuania and some parts of Spain and was regarded as such in Italy until 1977. It is a national holiday in Samoa, and equivalently in South Korea, where it is celebrated as Parents' Day.
History For centuries, the Eastern Orthodox Church has appointed the second Sunday before Nativity as the Sunday of the Forefathers to commemorate the ancestors of Christ according to the flesh, starting with Adam and emphasizing the patriarch Abraham, to whom God said,
This feast can fall between 11 and 17 December.. This feast includes the ancestors of Mary, mother of Jesus and various prophets.
A customary day for the celebration of fatherhood in Catholic Europe is known to date back to at least 1508. It is usually celebrated on 19 March, as the feast day of Saint Joseph, who is referred to as the fatherly Nutritor Domini ("Nourisher of the Lord") in Catholicism and "the putative father of Jesus" in southern European tradition. This celebration was brought to the Americas by the Spanish and Portuguese. The Catholic Church actively supported the custom of a celebration of fatherhood on St. Joseph's Day from either the last years of the 14th century or from the early 15th century, apparently on the initiative of the Franciscans.
In the Coptic Orthodox Church, the celebration of fatherhood is also observed on St Joseph's Day, but the Copts observe this on 20 July. The Coptic celebration may date back to the fifth century.
In the United States, whether to celebrate this day nationwide or not is a matter for debate. In 1908, Grace Golden Clayton proposed the day to honor those men who had died in a mining accident in the US. Though it was not accepted then, in 1909 Sonora Smart Dodd, who along with her five brothers was raised by her father alone, after attending Mother's Day in a church, convinced the Spokane Ministerial Association to celebrate Father's Day nationwide.
In addition to Father's Day, International Men's Day is celebrated in many countries on 19 November in honor of both men and boys.
Spelling "Father's Day" is spelled as a singular possessive following the precedent established by its predecessor, Mother's Day. In 1912, Anna Jarvis trademarked the phrase "Second Sunday in May, Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis, Founder."Compare footnote 51 in LaRossa, Ralph (1997). The Modernization of Fatherhood: A Social and Political History. University of Chicago Press. p. 272. ISBN 978-0226469041. Retrieved 28 April 2016. Technically, at least, Mother's Day was 'owned' by Jarvis. She managed not only to incorporate the Mother's Day International Association but also to register 'Second Sunday in May, Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis, Founder,' as the organization's trademark. Jarvis specifically noted that "Mother's" should "be a singular possessive, for each family to honor its own mother, not a plural possessive commemorating all mothers in the world."Louisa Taylor, Canwest News Service (11 May 2008). "Mother's Day creator likely 'spinning in her grave'". The Vancouver Sun. Canada. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
Dates The following is a list of when Father's Day is celebrated, in order of date of observance. Gregorian calendar Occurrence Dates CountrySoldier's DayAs with Russia, the celebration is officially for people who served or are serving in the Mongolian Armed Forces, but the congratulations are for all fathers and all other adult men and male children as well.18 MarchSt. Joseph's Day19 March (Dia del Pare)
(Belgium)
(Festa del papà)
(Dia do Pai) (Dia do Pai) (Día del Padre) (Festa del papà) (Festa del papà) (Dita e Babait) 8 May (Parents' Day)Second Sunday in May May May May (Ziua Tatălui)Third Sunday in May May May May Ascension DayFirst Sunday in June June June June (Tėvo diena)5 June (also Constitution Day)Second Sunday in June June June June Third Sunday in June June June June 17 June19 June21 June23 JuneLast Sunday in June June June June Second Sunday in July July July July Last Sunday in July July July July 8 AugustROC only. Though Father's Day on 8 August was first celebrated in Shanghai in 1945, there is no longer an official Father's Day in mainland China since 1949.Second Sunday in August August August August Last Monday in August August August August First Sunday in September September September September Second Sunday in September September September September First Sunday in October October October October Third Sunday in October October October October 21 OctoberSecond Sunday in November November November November 12 November5 December (the birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej)26 DecemberHebrew calendar Occurrence Equivalent Gregorian dates Country30 ShevatBetween 30 January and 1 March (Family Day) Hindu calendar Definition Equivalent Gregorian dates Country/territoryKushe Aunsi
(Bhadrapada Amavasya)Between 30 August and 30 September Islamic calendar Occurrence Equivalent Gregorian dates Country/territory13 Rajab, Ali Ibn Abi Talib's birthday Burmese calendar Occurrence Equivalent Gregorian dates Country/territoryFull Moon Day of Tabaungin February or March (Father's Day)
African traditions Algeria In Algeria, the third Sunday in June is the dedicated day to celebrate the Father's Day.
Kenya In Kenya, Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June and is not a public holiday.
Morocco In Morocco, the third Sunday in June is the dedicated day to celebrate the Father's Day.
Mozambique In Mozambique, Father's Day is observed on 19 March every year.
Nigeria In Nigeria, the third Sunday in June is the dedicated day to celebrate Father's Day.
Seychelles In Seychelles, Father's Day is celebrated on 16 June and is not a public holiday.
South Africa In South Africa, Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June. It is not a public holiday.
South Sudan In South Sudan, Father's Day is celebrated on the last Monday of August. President Salva Kiir proclaimed it before 27 August 2012. First celebrated on 27 August 2012, Father's Day was not celebrated in South Sudan in 2011 (due to the country's independence).
Sudan In Sudan, Father's Day (عيد الأب), is celebrated on 21 June.
Asian traditions
Bangladesh
In Bangladesh there is no historical tradition of celebrating Father's Day (Bengali/Bangla: বাবা/আব্বু দিবস, Baba/abbu dibosh) and has been popularized by Western influences in the country. It is celebrated on the third Sunday of June, and is not a public holiday. Father's Day was not very popular and had been made more widespread by the Millennial and Generation Z communities all over the country through social media in recent times. Even though many religious families do not celebrate it, it is more widespread than ever.
Cambodia In Cambodia, Father's Day is celebrated on the 15th of June.
China In the People's Republic of China, there is no official Father's Day. Some people celebrate on the third Sunday of June, according to the tradition of the United States. Father's Day is also celebrated in the special administrative regions. In Hong Kong, it is celebrated on the third Sunday of June and is not a public holiday. In Macau, Father's Day (Dia do Pai) is celebrated on the third Sunday of June and is not a public holiday.
India Father's Day is not an original custom in India but is rather followed by the influence of the Western world. It is observed on the third Sunday of June. This event is not a public holiday. The day is usually celebrated only in larger cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune, Kolkata, Jaipur, Lucknow and others. It is a huge holiday in the North Eastern state of Nagaland and Kerala where prayers are held in church on Sunday Services. After this day was first observed in the United States in 1908 and gradually gained popularity, Indian metropolitan cities, much later, followed suit by recognising this event. In India, the day is usually celebrated with children giving gifts such as greeting cards, electronic gadgets, shirts, gold necklaces, coffee mugs or books to their fathers.
Indonesia In Indonesia, Father's Day is celebrated on 12 November and is not a public holiday. Father's Day in Indonesia was first declared in 2006 in Surakarta City Hall attended by hundreds of people from various community groups, including people from community of inter-religion communication. Because of its recent declaration, there is not much hype about the celebration, compared to the celebration of Mother's Day on 22 December. Google also created its doodle for Indonesia in 2019 and 2020.
Iran In Iran before the revolution, the 24th of Esfand, Reza Shah's birthday, was called Father's Day based on the Iranian calendar. After the revolution of 1979, this day was changed to the 13th of Rajab, the birthday of Ali bin Abi Talib, the first imam of Shiites. Zoroastrians also celebrate Shahrivargan as Father's Day.
Israel In Israel, Father's Day is usually celebrated as part of Family Day on 30 Shevat, though some celebrate on 1 May together with Workers' Day or Labor Day.
Japan In Japan, Father's Day () is celebrated on the third Sunday of June and is not a public holiday. Common presents are sake, shochu, fashion items, some kinds of gourmet food, sports equipment and various sweets.
Kazakhstan Since 2012, Kazakhstan celebrates Defender of the Fatherland Day () to commemorate the foundation of the armed forces. It is also called Army Day and it is celebrated on 7 May. Kazakh society perceives it as 'a men's day' and honoring men so it is vaguely a celebration of fathers.
Malaysia In Malaysia, Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June and is not a public holiday.
Mongolia The Mongolian Men's Association began the celebration of Father's Day on 8 August 2005.
Nepal
The Nepalese Hindus as well as the Newars in Nepal honors fathers on the day of Kushe aunsi (), which occurs in late August or early September, depending on the year, since it depends on the lunar calendar. According to Hindu calendar, the festival falls on the new moon day of Bhadra month. It is also known as Gokarna Aunsi or Pitri Tirpani Aunsi.
In recent years, Nepalese non–Hindus have also adopted the Kushe Aunsi day. It is commonly known as () or Abu ya Khwa Swoyegu in Nepal Bhasa. The celebration of the festival has been modernized in some ways in recent years. Children worship their father on this day, put tika on his forehead and give him sweets, delicacies and gifts as a part of celebration. In return, the father blesses good fortune to his children.
On the new moon day (Amavasya), it is traditional to pay respect to one's deceased father; Hindus go to the Shiva temple of Gokarneswor Mahadev, in Gokarna, a suburb of Kathmandu while Buddhists go to Jana Bahal (Seto Machhendranath or white Tara) temple in Kathmandu.