Honoring dads on Father’s Day

Father's Day in Spain, known as Saint Joseph’s Day, falls on March 19th. It coincides with Saint Joseph’s Day, as Saint Joseph is considered the legal father of Jesus, making it the perfect occasion to celebrate Father’s Day. Would you like to learn about the history of this holiday in Spain? In 1948, Manuela Vicente Ferrero, a school teacher from Dehesa de la Villa, Madrid, organized Father’s Day with her students. She believed that dads deserved a special day, inspired by the tradition of Mother’s Day. She chose Saint Joseph’s Day for three main reasons: Saint Joseph's devotion as a father and his humility, his portrayal in the Bible as the epitome of hard work and his role as the patron saint of laborers, and the strong Catholic tradition in Spain. During this first Father’s Day celebration, Manuela organized a children's festival, a mass, and various other activities. The students also made some crafts for their fathers as well. It was a huge success, and many other schools celebrated Father’s Day in the following years. Galerías Preciados and El Corte Inglés, two department store groups, also liked the idea and saw an opportunity to increase sales. They launched several marketing campaigns to promote Father’s Day.

Celebrating Father’s Day in Germany, known as Vatertag and Männertarg, is a highly cherished date in Germany. It is a public holiday, so people don’t need to go to work that day—at least in most cases. Father’s Day is celebrated during Ascension Day, 40 days after Easter. This date commemorates when Jesus Christ ascended to God, his father. This tradition began as a religious one, but by the 18th century, it turned into a family day (Vatertag) to honor fathers, often with rewards. For example, the father with the most children would win a prize. Gradually, this tradition was also known as Männertag, Men’s Day, involving not only fathers but also men in general. During this celebration, men are allowed to be a little mischievous. They spend time outdoors, go hiking, have some beers, and have fun! Of course, they also receive gifts and lots of attention.

Dia dos Pais, the Brazilian Father’s Day, is celebrated on the second day of August. The date was chosen by journalist Roberto Marinho and his consultant Sylvio Behring. They wanted it to coincide with St. Joachim, the patron saint of grandfathers, parents, married couples, and families. They chose that day to increase newspaper sales during that period of the year and succeeded. As in many other countries, fathers receive many gifts during this day: ties, cologne, clothes, tools… Kids also make drawings for them at school. Another common Brazilian tradition is holding a family gathering for a large homemade lunch. Families cook mouthwatering meals to make their fathers happy. Luckily, Father’s Day also falls on a Sunday, so most dads around the country don’t have to work that day. They can simply enjoy that day with their families.

Father’s Day in Thailand. Did you know that Thai people celebrate Father’s Day in December? They break tradition, as many other countries prefer June or even March, as in the case of Spain, to gather the whole family. In Thailand, they have merged three different holidays: Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birthday (the late king of Thailand who reigned for 70 years), Father’s Day, and Thailand’s National Day. In the past, before King Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away, people honored him with candlelit events, along with other festivals. But let’s talk about the traditions related to fathers. Thais give canna flowers to their fathers and grandfathers on this day. Of course, they also receive other gifts such as ties, books, cologne... Another common practice is taking fathers and grandfathers out to lunch. Is there a more meaningful way to bond with your family than sharing a meal and reminiscing about life and cherished memories? Sùk-săn wan pâw! (or, in English, “Happy Father’s Day!”)

Men’s Day in Russia is celebrated as Defender of the Fatherland Day on February 23rd. This day is viewed as Men’s Day rather than Father’s Day, and women give gifts to their fathers, brothers, sons, husbands, friends, and co-workers. To understand the origins of this day, it’s necessary to know some events linked to the Russian Civil War. The first milestone was the very first mass draft into the Red Army in Moscow and Petrograd, which took place in 1918. During the next year, in 1919, the Russians decided to celebrate not only the success of this first mass draft but also the establishment of the Red Army. After this first celebration, the government changed the holiday's name to Soviet Army and Navy Day in 1949. It was renamed again in 2002, becoming Defender of the Fatherland Day. To celebrate this holiday, the Russians prepare many activities: parades, concerts, fireworks, and people lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honor Russian veterans.