Father’s Day around the World: Origins, Dates, Traditions

In Greece, Father’s Day is celebrated connected the 3rd Sunday of June. This year, it falls connected Sunday, June 15, 2025. Contrary to fashionable belief, the commemoration was not established successful effect to Mother’s Day but has a past profoundly rooted successful honoring fathers.

The archetypal recorded Father’s Day solemnisation took spot successful Fairmont, West Virginia, successful the eastbound United States, connected July 5, 1908. Organized by Grace Golden Clayton, it was a tribute to 210 fathers who tragically mislaid their lives successful a mining mishap earlier that year.

In 1966, decades aft that archetypal commemoration, US President Lyndon Johnson issued the archetypal statesmanlike proclamation officially recognizing Father’s Day and mounting the 3rd Sunday of June arsenic its yearly observance. This designation was further solidified arsenic a nationalist vacation successful 1972 by Richard Nixon.

Across Europe, Father’s Day is observed connected varying dates. In Italy, Spain, and Portugal, it coincides with the Feast of St. Joseph connected March 19. In Germany, it is celebrated connected Ascension Day and known arsenic “Männertag” oregon Men’s Day, initially linked with household outings and brew festivals.

In Australia, Father’s Day falls connected the archetypal Sunday of September, marking the onset of outpouring successful the confederate hemisphere. Meanwhile, successful Thailand, Father’s Day is honored connected December 5, the day of the revered precocious King Bhumibol Adulyadej, affectionately known arsenic the Father of the Nation. Thai contented includes the altruistic enactment of humor donation arsenic portion of their celebrations.

On the different hand, South Korea does not person a dedicated Father’s Day. Instead, they observe Parents’ Day connected May 8, which primitively began arsenic Mother’s Day but evolved to besides admit the relation of fathers, aligning with the country’s accepted Confucian values and customs surrounding familial respect and filial piety.

Happy Father’s Day to each dads!