Father’s Day celebrations vary from country to country. It is celebrated in Canada, the United Kingdom, United States, Argentina, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Mexico, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, and Venezuela on the third Sunday of June. In Australia and New Zealand, Father’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in September. In Thailand it is celebrated on December 5th, which is the birthday of the country’s king. Brazilian dads are honored on the second Sunday of August.
On Father’s Day many people make a special effort for their fathers or father figures. Some people visit their fathers, while others give cards, flowers or other gifts, such as clothing or sporting equipment, or luxury food items. Father’s Day is a relatively modern holiday, so different families have different traditions. These can range from a simple phone call or greeting card to large parties honoring all father figures in an extended family. Father figures can include fathers, step-fathers, fathers-in-law, grandfathers, great-grandfathers and even other male relatives.
Father’s Day in India is a relatively new concept but it is celebrated similar to us, although on a smaller scale. There is a greater awareness of Father’s Day events in metropolitan cities and bigger towns due to the greater exposure of people to the western cultures in these areas. In Mexico, Father’s Day is referred to as “Día del Padre”, where many families get together, prepare meals and distribute gifts to fathers or father figures. In South Africa, many social and cultural societies host Father’s Day celebrations to stress the important role of fathers in nurturing children and building a stronger society.
The idea of a special day to honor fathers and celebrate fatherhood was introduced from the United States. There, a woman called Sonora Smart Dodd was inspired by the American Mother’s Day celebrations to plan a day to honor fathers. In the USA, Father’s Day has been celebrated in June since 1910. The celebrations in the United Kingdom and other countries are thought to have been inspired by the American custom of Father’s Day.