Unsplash: Mael Balland
If you think about it, there is a holiday and celebration for many things, whether it is something random or something specific. Ice Cream Day. Hug your cat day. Hug your dog day. Public Dream Day. World Compliment Day. Mario day. Winnie the Pooh Day. Let’s not forget Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Just name it and do a quick Google search, something will surely come up in about three seconds or less.
Like many of these aforementioned celebrations, Father’s Day is a day to honor fathers and father figures around this blue marble. In most places, including the US, UK, Canada, India, Ireland, Malaysia, and many more, Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June. However, in other countries, this day is celebrated at other times of the year. In Spain it is celebrated on March 19. In Australia it is celebrated on the first Sunday of September. In Sweden, it is celebrated on November 12. Regardless of where, when, or how this event is celebrated, this special day is all about honoring fathers and father figures. But what else do you know about Father’s Day?
The first Father’s Day was celebrated in 1910.
Loud Louise Smart Dodd, daughter of a farmer and Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, advocated for a day to celebrate and honor fathers. She spoke with the Spokane Ministerial Alliance and suggested that the celebration be held on her father’s birthday on June 5th. However, the organization decided to hold the event on the third Sunday of June.
Father’s Day was not recognized as a national holiday until 1972.
In 1924, the President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, promoted the concept of Father’s Day. Then, in 1966, United States President Lyndon Johnson endorsed a national commemoration to take place on the third Sunday in June. But it wasn’t until 1972 that US President Nixon officially declared Father’s Day a national holiday.
Father’s Day in Thailand is also the birthday of the Thai king.
Thailand celebrates National Father’s Day on December 5, which is also the birthday of the late King Bhumibol. On this day, schools and businesses are closed so people can celebrate fathers across the country.
Germans celebrate the day by drinking lots of beer and eating traditional food.
In Germany, Father’s Day is known as Männertag or Vatertag and this holiday occurs on Christian Ascension Day. The day involves a lot of eating delicious food and drinking good cold beer outdoors.
The rose is the official flower of the celebration.
A red rose is used to honor parents who are still living, while a white rose is used to honor parents who have passed away.
One of the biggest parties for sending cards.
According to Hallmark, about 72 million Father’s Day greeting cards are purchased each year, making Father’s Day the fourth most popular holiday of the year for card-sending.