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Father's Day Celebrations
around the world
Most people around the world celebrate Father's Day, but the dates to honor dads are not the same everywhere. In many
countries the customs and traditions may be very different than the ones you know. The earliest record of Father's Day was
found in the ruins of Babylon. A young boy named Elmesu carved a Father's Day message on a card made out of clay nearly 4,000
years ago. He wished his Babylonian father good health and a long life. No one knows what happened to Elmesu or his father,
but the tradition of having a special day honoring fathers has continued through the years in countries all around the world.
In many countries, where the Catholic Church has had a important influence on the culture, Father's Day is celebrated on St.
Joseph's Day (March 19). |
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Around the world, people celebrate Fathers Day to honor dads and to express their love and affection for them. It may be
noted that the date of Father's Day festival in not fixed and different countries around the world celebrate Father Day on
different times of the year. Sometimes, even the manner of Father's Day celebration differ, what is common everywhere though
is the spirit of the festival. In countries across the globe people take opportunity of Father's Day to honor their dad with
cards, chocolates, flowers and other gift of love. Spending time with dad and indulging in fun-filled activities is another
common feature of Father's Day celebration around the world. Another interesting factor about Father's Day celebration is
that people wish “Happy Father's Day” not just to their biological father, but also grandfather, stepfather, foster father,
uncle, elder brother or anyone who plays the role of a father in their lives. In recent times a secular celebration, not
associated with any religion, has been celebrated in many of these countries to reflect the increased diversity of the people
who live there. Some families choose one of the dates to celebrate Father's Day and ignore the other day, but some lucky dads
actually get to celebrate Father's Day twice every year! |
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Father's Day in USA
Father's Day in USA is celebrated with
great enthusiasm and lot of fanfare on third Sunday of June. Observing the day,
people reflect on the invaluable role played by fathers in building the character
of children and in the development of the nation. On Father's Day people honor
their father and express gratitude for his love and affection. As a Father's
Day tradition, people in US also pay tribute to grandfather, stepfather, foster
father, uncle or any other men who are like father. Fathers Day celebrations
in USA takes place with lot of gaiety and enthusiasm. The day is observed as
a time for family reunion in families, as children who are staying away from
families take time out to celebrate the day with their father. Indulging daddy
with breakfast in bed and gifts like cards, flowers, chocolates and neckties
is the traditional way of celebrating Father Day in USA. Massive popularity
of Fathers Day Festival has led to extensive commercialization of the occasion.
Critics rue that rigorous marketing campaign has spoiled the noble idea of honoring
fathers on Father's Day as many observe the day by performing the mere formality
of presenting gifts to dad. Others, however, see the positive side of commercialization
and say that it in fact helps to raise awareness about the day and encourages
children to honor their father. |
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Father's Day in Australia
In Australia, Father's Day is celebrated
with much enthusiasm and joy. What is noticeable about Father's Day in Australia
is its unique time of celebration. Unlike in US and several other countries
where Father's Day is celebrated on the Third Sunday of June, Fathers Day in
Australia is celebrated on the first Sunday of September. Hence, the date of
Father's Day is never fixed. Fathers Day celebration in Australia takes place
in the same way as in several other countries around the world. Taking opportunity
of the occasion, people express gratitude for father and thank them for all
their care and support. Most often children gift flowers, neckties, chocolates
or other gift to honor their dearest dad. Though the occasion is celebrated
privately in households, several clubs and societies take initiative to organize
special programmes to encourage and entertain people. Breakfast meeting for
families is a common feature of Father Day celebration in Australia. Various
types of games and activities are organized in such Father's Day get-togethers
to strengthen the bond of love between father and a child. |
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Father's Day in UK
Father's Day in UK is celebrated in much
the same way as it is celebrated in US. In UK too, Father's Day festival is
celebrated on the third Sunday of June and therefore the date of the festival
is never fixed. People celebrate the occasion by honoring their father and expressing
affection for them by presenting popular gifts like cards, flowers, chocolates
and neckties. Little children often give handmade gifts to their dad. Several
clubs, schools and cultural societies in United Kingdom organize Fathers Day
parties and get-togethers and provide people an opportunity to celebrate the
day. Games and fun-filled add joy to such celebrations. It may also be noted
that Father's Day festival has been commercialized in England to a great extent.
Days before the festival marketers launch an aggressive advertising campaign
to lure people and cash in on the sentimental value of the occasion. Though
critics are very much against rude commercialization many people feel that marketing
of the festival helps to create awareness about the day and therefore strengthen
the bond of love shared between father and a child. |
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Father's Day in New Zealand
The beautiful island country of New Zealand
celebrates Father's Day with much charm and enthusiasm on the first Sunday in
the month of September. Just as in several countries around the world people
of New Zealand celebrate the occasion by honoring their father and paying tribute
to fatherhood in general. Children in New Zealand take advantage of Fathers
Day to pamper daddy with handmade cards, flowers and chocolates. Spending time
with father by indulging in joyful activities is another popular way of expressing
love and affection for papa on Father Day in New Zealand. |
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Father's Day in Canada
In Canada, Father's Day is celebrated
with lot of enthusiasm and fanfare. Since, the tradition of celebrating Fathers
Day moved to Canada from US, Fathers Day in Canada is also celebrated on third
Sunday of June. Just as in US, people in Canada too wear roses to express gratitude
for their father. Traditionally, if the person is wearing red rose, it symbolizes
the person's father is alive. Likewise, white rose means that the person's father
is no more. Children in Canada express affection and honor for their dad by
presenting them cards, flowers and chocolates. In modern times, several other
gifts of love including neckties, shirts, electronic gadgets, stationery items
etc are also gifted to father by loving children. Another noticeable trend about
Fathers Day celebration in Canada is that apart from their biological father
people wish “Happy Father's Day” to their grandfathers, stepfathers,
foster father, uncles or any other man who is as affectionate and loving towards
them as a father. Immense popularity of Fathers Day festival has turned the
occasion commercial to a significant degree. Days before the festival markets
wear a festival look as gift and card sellers try to lure the people and harp
on the emotional significance of the occasion. Dining out with family is another
popular Fathers Day tradition in Canada. No wonder, restaurants and eating joints
witness a bumper rush on the occasion. |
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Father's Day in South Africa
Like many countries around the world,
people in South Africa do not miss the opportunity to honor fathers by celebrating
Father's Day. In South Africa too, Fathers Day is celebrated on the third Sunday
of June. Marking the beautiful occasion, people express love and affection for
their father and thank them for their great support and guidance. As a tradition,
children also pamper their father or men like father by presenting loveable
gifts like cards, flowers, gourmet gifts, neckties or other any other present
their father love to receive. As Father's Day is celebrated on a Sunday, people
get all the opportunity to enjoy the occasion with the family. Many people in
South Africa go out for picnic, fishing or just for a meal in restaurant. Apart
from private celebrations, several social and cultural societies in South Africa
host Father's Day celebration to stress on the important role played by fathers
in nurturing children and building stronger society. |
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Father's Day in Ireland
Fathers Day in Ireland is celebrated
with great joy and enthusiasm. Fathers Day celebration in Ireland takes place
on the third Sunday of June, the same day when several countries and US celebrate
Father's Day. Taking full opportunity of the day, people honor their father
and express affection and gratitude for them. Like in many other countries,
people indulge their father by presenting them with loads of gift and allowing
them a day of rest. Grown-ups take their fathers out for dinner or lunch or
treat them with breakfast in bed. People whose father are no more, pay tribute
by giving donations in the name of their father or by performing acts of service.
Several clubs and cultural organizations in Ireland organize Father's Day programs
to stress on the important role played by father in the development of the child.
An effort is also made to make fathers realize that they must make all efforts
to fulfill with devotion and sincerity their responsibility as a father. Besides,
children are also encouraged to pay full attention and respect to their father. |
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Father's Day in India
The concept of celebrating Father's Day
is very new in India. The idea of celebrating Fathers Day has been imported
from western countries mainly US, perhaps less than a decade ago. However, it
is remarkable to note that the idea of observing a day in honor of fathers has
been appreciated by Indians to a large extent. Today, millions of people in
India observe Father's Day on the third Sunday of June by expressing gratitude
for their father or men who are like father. Father's Day celebration in India
takes place in the same way as in UK or US though in a limited way. Awareness
about Fathers Day festival is much greater in metropolitan cities and bigger
towns due to the greater exposure of people to the western cultures in such
places. But thanks to the rigorous advertising campaign launched by card companies
and gift sellers the idea of celebrating Father's Day is fast catching on with
people in smaller towns and cities of India. Just as in UK and US people in
India too, celebrate Father's Day by expressing gratitude and love for Papa.
Children gift cards, flowers and other gifts of love to their dad to show their
affection. Dining in restaurants or going out for picnic or movie is another
common way of celebrating Fathers Day in India. Several schools and cultural
societies in India organize cultural programs on Father's Day. The idea behind
such programmes is to inspire children to pay due respect to their dad and take
care of them. Fathers are also encouraged to spend quality time with their children
and instill in them noble values and manners.
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