Father’s Day Traditions Around the World

In the United States, Father’s Day is an integral aspect of many families. It was made an official holiday rather recently, in 1972, and is now celebrated annually on the third Sunday of June. Being a day full of family gatherings, gifts, and overall a showering of love for all of the father figures, it truly is a special celebration. 

Many other countries around the world hold as much pride in a day to celebrate beloved father figures as the United States does, especially as each other country has developed many of their own unique traditions. 

Japan

Japanese Father’s day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June, and it is known as “Chichi no hi.” Flowers play a crucial role in this celebration, as a highly respected tradition is to give fathers yellow roses. Yellow roses are a symbol of happiness and inner strength. On this day, another critical aspect is the time the families get to spend together including family lunches or dinners, where they are likely to have a meal consisting of crab or prawn. 

Spain

Father’s Day, or Dia Del Padre, in Spain is celebrated to coincide with the Catholic holiday of St.Joseph’s Day, on March 19th (and Italy celebrates on this day as well). This day is used to celebrate the life of Joseph, Mary’s husband, as he represents the values of a good father and husband, and the leader of a holy family. The Spanish culture has several Father’s Day traditions including, tres leches cake and other authentic foods, homemade gifts from the children, and friendly competitions such as soccer and sack races between members of the families. 

India

Father’s Day in India is celebrated annually on the third Sunday of June, and is seen as a day to celebrate the personal heroes of each family. The tradition behind Indian Father’s Day is reciprocal between the children, who show their respect to their fathers through gifts, and the fathers, who spend time with their children to sow wise values into them. The gifts most commonly given are homemade cards and flowers. Indian families also often go out to a nice restaurant for dinner, or go on a picnic and to a movie to celebrate the father figures and personal heroes of each family. 

Thailand

Thai Father’s Day, more commonly known as Wan Por in Thailand, is celebrated on December 5th. This date corresponds with the King Bhumibol Adulyadej Birthday Commemoration Day, the day their highly-valued late king was born. On this day, families present their fathers and grandfathers with a canna flower called “dok phuttha raksa” in Thai. There are also many festivals on this day to honor the late king’s birthday celebration and have a fun day to celebrate father figures. 

Kathmandu Valley of Nepal

These natives use the Father’s Day celebration to honor father figures who have already passed, and they do so with a day in late August or September called, “Gokarna Aunsi”, meaning, “day for looking at father’s face”. The specific fate carries yearly, as the day of honor must coincide with the lunar calendar, and the new moon day.

South Africa

The celebration of Father’s Day in South Africa takes place on the third Sunday in June, and is a day honoring the critical role father’s place in nurturing and cultivating children, as well as building a strong, well-rounded society. This is a day for families to spend quality time together, and many South Africans use this time to go out for a picnic in the sun, or fishing in a nearby lake wishing to catch their dinner. Children give their fathers handmade cards, flowers, neckties, and novel gifts. 

No matter the way you celebrate Father’s Day, it is certain that it is a day full of expressed gratefulness, thankfulness, and love, for the wonderful people who play strong father figures throughout our lives.