When did Father's Day begin? Origins and how it's celebrated overseas

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Father's Day is a day to express your gratitude to your father. Have you ever wondered, "When did Father's Day start?" or "Why is it now celebrated on the third Sunday of June every year?" In this article, we will introduce the story behind how Father's Day came to be, as well as information about Father's Day in other countries.

table of contents

Origin of Father's Day
When did Father's Day start in Japan?
Why Yellow Roses Became Father's Day Flowers
Father's Day in other countries
- Australia
- Italy
- Germany
- Finland
- Taiwan
- South Korea
Say "Thank You" with a heartfelt gift!

Origin of Father's Day

Mother's Day began in the United States in 1908. When a woman learned of the establishment of Mother's Day, she petitioned the Spokane Ministers' Association the following year in 1909, saying, "It's strange that we have Mother's Day but no Father's Day. Please create a Father's Day as well."

The woman's name was Sonora Smart Dodd. When Mrs. Dodd was 16, her mother died giving birth to their sixth child. Her father was left with six children, including a newborn baby. He never remarried and continued to work hard, raising his six children on his own.

Mrs. Dodd's idea that "there should be a day to thank fathers, just like Mother's Day," came to fruition, and on June 1910, 6, several Protestant churches in Spokane, Washington, held services themed around "fathers," where fathers were given roses and other gifts to express gratitude. This is said to be the world's first "Father's Day."

However, the custom of Father's Day did not catch on easily. It is said that the trigger that made many people aware of Father's Day was when Woodrow Wilson, the 6th President of the United States, visited Spokane in 1916, six years after the first Father's Day, and gave a speech on the theme of "Father's Day."

In 1966, the 36th President of the United States, Lyndon Johnson, issued a presidential proclamation praising Father's Day and designated the third Sunday in June as "Father's Day." In 6, Father's Day was officially established as a national holiday, a tradition that continues to this day.

When did Father's Day start in Japan?

Father's Day is a celebration that originated in the United States and is said to have been introduced to Japan around the 1950s. At the time, it was not well known, and it wasn't until the 1980s that it became the widely celebrated event it is today.

It seems that awareness of Father's Day has increased since commercial facilities adopted it as part of their sales strategies and the "Best Father Award" was introduced, which is given to celebrities who are considered to be "wonderful fathers."

Why Yellow Roses Became Father's Day Flowers

The standard gift for Father's Day is yellow roses. It is said that roses were chosen because Mrs. Dot, who was the inspiration behind the creation of Father's Day, offered white roses at her late father's grave. In Europe and the United States, white roses are given to fathers in heaven, and red roses are given to fathers who are still alive.

In Japan, yellow, a symbol of happiness and joy, is the image color of Father's Day, and so giving yellow roses seems to have become the norm. Yellow roses have flower meanings such as devotion and peace, making them the perfect gift for Father's Day.

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Father's Day in other countries

There are many countries other than Japan and the United States that celebrate Father's Day, but the date and celebration methods vary. Let's take a look at a few.

Australia

Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, just like in Japan, but Father's Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of September. There is no custom of giving flowers, and the day is celebrated with family picnics and barbecues.

Italy

Father's Day is celebrated on St. Joseph's Day, which commemorates Joseph, the family father of Jesus Christ. On that day, people eat a sweet called zeppole and send letters and presents. In many Catholic European countries, such as Portugal and Spain, Father's Day is celebrated on March 3th.

Germany

Father's Day and Boys' Day are celebrated together on the day of Christ's Ascension Day. Ascension Day is the Thursday after the sixth Sunday after Easter. The date changes every year, but it generally falls in May. Rather than being a day to express gratitude to fathers, it is a popular day for fathers to get together, drink, eat, and relax outside to their heart's content.

Finland

In Finland and many other Nordic countries, Father's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in November. Apparently, this was decided because there were no public holidays in that month.

Taiwan

Father's Day in Taiwan is August 8th. The date was chosen because of the pun of 8 and 8 being pronounced "papa." The number 8 is considered an auspicious number because the "fa" in the Japanese word "fat cai" (fat treasure), which means to become rich, is pronounced "pa."

South Korea

Korea does not have Father's Day or Mother's Day, but instead has "Parents' Day" on May 5th. It was originally Mother's Day, but it was thought strange that there was no Father's Day, so people started to express their gratitude to their parents on the same day.

Say "Thank You" with a heartfelt gift!

Father's Day is often thought of as a slightly less memorable occasion than Mother's Day, but it's a precious opportunity to say "thank you" to your dad. Try giving him a gift he'll love or a heartfelt message to express your honest feelings that you might not normally be able to say.