Father’s Day around the globe

MANILA, Philippines – The third Sunday of June has seen a surplus of greetings – both online and in real life – highlighting how we hold our fathers so dear in our hearts.

Father’s Day has become a staple celebration in the Filipino household, filled with intimate meal times or loud karaoke sessions.

But not all countries celebrate this special occasion the way we do. From kingly parades to odd gifts, Father’s Day around the globe shows how varied cultures are, while still recognizing the importance of taking a day for fathers.

Apart from the Filipino way, here’s a peek at how Father’s Day is celebrated in other parts of the world.

United States

The concept of celebrating a day for fathers may have begun centuries ago, but it was only in 1909 when someone tried to put it on record. Washington resident Sonora Smart Dodd wanted to dedicate a day for her father who raised her and her 5 other siblings after her mother died when she was 16. Although she originally wanted to celebrate it on June 5, her own father’s birthday, the local community assigned it to the third Sunday of June.

The very first Father’s Day on record was on June 19, 1910, the same date we will be celebrating the occasion this year.

A necktie is the most popular gift for Father’s Day in America, and is ranked as the 5th holiday that rakes in the most greeting cards sales, according to cards company Hallmark.

China

The atrocities of World War II prompted China to commemorate a day for its fallen troops and fathers who fought in the war. They chose August 8, as the date translates to baba in Chinese, similar to the term of endearment for the word father.

Now, China has shifted the celebration to the third Sunday of June as well, to conform to international standards. The day is marked by having barbecues and taking fathers out for dinner, just as most people in the rest of the world do.

Russia

Russia does not have an official date for Father’s Day, but the Defender of the Fatherland Day every 23rd of February is its closest equivalent. The date serves as a commemoration of the time when men were recruited in the army to fight in the Russian Civil War in 1919.

A public holiday, most schools and government offices are closed on this day. Local parades are usually organized to honor war veterans, while girls may also give the men in their lives different gifts and tributes.

Brazil

Father’s Day, which Brazilians call Dia dos Pais, is celebrated on the second day of August in this South American country. This is in honor of St Joachim, the Virgin Mary’s father, according to Roman Catholic traditions. While the date deviates from international norms, there isn’t much variation when it comes to festivities.

Brazilians take their fathers out to a restaurant of their choice and enjoy the day with family. Their celebrations, however, tend to be much bigger since 3 generations – grandfather, father, and grandson – normally make up each family.

Thailand

The celebration of Father’s Day in Thailand is tied to the reigning monarch’s birthday. In the current case, King Bhumibol Adulyadej was born on December 5, stamping the date for future commemorations of dads in the country. Thais look at the king as the number one role model for fathers, and festivities are marked with shouts of “Long live the King!”

A candle-lighting ceremony is held throughout the country to wish the king long life. The portrait of the king and the national flag are hung across the streets.

The same rule applies to the celebration of Mother’s Day, when the queen’s birthday is adopted.

Australia

Australians honor their fathers on the first Sunday of September, which also happens to be the first Sunday of spring. Aside from a deviation in date, Aussies celebrate Father’s Day much like other countries do – with dinner celebrations with fathers or family reunions.

Since the celebration falls on a Sunday, it also gives fathers the chance to just relax and unwind from a long week, making the celebration more stress-free.

Germany

The day wouldn’t be complete if alcohol wasn’t involved – this is what Germans think of when they think about Father’s Day. Called Vatertag, the German term for Father’s Day, or simply Mannertag to include all men in Men’s Day, celebrations are set 40 days after Easter. This is the day when Jesus Christ is believed to have ascended into heaven, which usually falls on May.

They also have a tradition where men pull wagons called the bollerwagen, supposedly to assert their manhood. The event is so notorious for its beer-drinking events that many have sought to put a ban on liquor-drinking during Vatertag. Efforts have been futile, however, and alcohol continues to overflow on the date for men.

Spain

Called El Día del Padre, Spain’s celebration of Father’s Day is influenced by Catholic tradition. The date is set on March 19, the feast day of Saint Joseph, Mary’s husband. Saint Josephis seen as the prime example of a good husband and dedicated father.

Their Father’s Day coincides with the celebration of Las Fallas in the Spanish city of Valencia. Here, residents burn huge monuments made primarily of wood that symbolize events in the previous year. Although mostly of pagan origin, residents eventually linked Las Fallas to Saint Joseph’s day, since he was a carpenter.

South Korea

In the grander scheme of things, South Korea has reserved the month of May for families. While the 5th of May is dubbed Children’s Day, they have combined Mother’s Day and Father’s Day into a single date, May 8. The date was only supposed to honor Mother’s Day until 1973, when the question of having an occasion for fathers surfaced. Instead of establishing another holiday, the South Korean government just converted Mother’s Day into Parent’s Day.

Gifts given to parents on this day would probably seem odd to the rest of the world, but have become a norm in South Korean pop culture.

Instead of the usual clothes or sporting gear, Koreans opt to give their parents cosmetic surgey – face lifts, botox treatments, and even hair transplants – a gesture intended to make their parents look younger. – Rappler.com