Feature Articles | Father's Day Origins |
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15 Mar 2008 After centuries of mums getting special recognition, it was time that dad too had a day that began with breakfast in bed, offerings of handmade and token gifts followed by several hours of everybody trying to be nice to him... It may be Father's day, El Dia del Padre, in Spain on March 19th but this annual celebration falls on various dates throughout the world. Unlike, Mother's Day, which is typically celebrated on the second Sunday in May, (except in the UK), Father's Day is a relatively new invention from the early 1900's.The origin of Mother's Day in Europe was the 4th Sunday during Lent when Christians honoured the "Mother" church in which they were baptised by decorating it with flowers and jewels. In 17th century England, a church decree widened the day to include actual Mothers and Mothering Sunday was born. As well as this day offering servants and the working class a day off from work in order to pay a visit to their mothers, it was also a day free from the fasting of Lent ,when families could enjoy a hearty meal together and mothers would receive cakes and flowers. The idea for Father's day came from the other side of the pond when, in 1909, in Washington, a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd decided to hold a special day for her father who was born in June. In 1926, Father's Day was recognised by a national commitee in New York and then by congress in 1956. Being of great male concern and not content to leave it there, the occasion had to be made official. It was none less than President Nixon, in 1972 who proclaimed a national observance of Father's Day annually on the third Sunday in June. Father's Day falls earlier in Spain as it is also Saint Joseph's Day, the father of Christ. World Dates for Father's Day. Australia - 1st Sunday in September Belgium - St. Joseph's Day & 2nd Sunday in June Canada - 3rd Sunday in June Denmark - 2nd Sunday in November Finland - 2nd Sunday in November France - 3rd Sunday in June Germany - Ascension Thursday Japan - 3rd Sunday in June Netherlands - 3rd Sunday in June New Zealand - 1st Sunday in September Norway - 2nd Sunday in November Portugal - St. Joseph's Day March 19 Spain - St. Joseph's Day March 19 Sweden - 2nd Sunday in November United Kingdom - 3rd Sunday in June United States - 3rd Sunday in June |
