Calendario Cultural – Junio: Father’s Day

We’ve already celebrated our mothers this year, but it won’t be long until your dad’s special day is upon us – here’s all you need to know…

Father’s Day in the United Kingdom

Father’s Day is held on the third Sunday of June in the UK. It is a day to honour fathers and father figures like grandfathers and fathers-in-law.

Why do we celebrate Father’s Day? 

The idea originated in the USA and has been officially celebrated there on the third Sunday in June since 1966.

Many believe that Sonora Dodd, from Washington, came up with the idea as she wondered, not unreasonably, why fathers did not have their own day too. So, she began a campaign to have the day officially recognised.

The first such “Father’s Day” was held in Spokane in 1910, with a number of towns and cities across America later doing the same.

Now, the day exists simply to remind everyone that dads are great.

What Do People Do?

On Father’s Day, many people visit their father. They often take or send cards and gifts. Common Father’s Day gifts are ties, socks, underwear, sweaters, slippers and other items of clothing. Other people give tools for household maintenance or garden work, luxury food items or drinks.

Many Father’s Day gifts have slogans such as “The World’s Best Dad”, “For My Father” or just a simple “Dad” on them. The increase in print-on-demand services offered by photo processing companies has made personalized gifts popular for Father’s Day. Photographs of children can be printed on desk calendars, mugs, T-shirts, mouse mats, bags and even ties. Many fathers are expected to take these to the office to remind them of their families while they are working.

In the days and weeks before Father’s Day, many schools help their pupils to prepare a handmade card or gift for their father, such as calendars with drawings made by the children.

Some families celebrate Father’s Day by planning an outing or weekend trip. This may be a simple walk in the countryside or a whole planned “experience”. Popular Father’s Day experiences include driving a fire engine, rally car, tank or even airplane or taking a golf, football or cricket lesson with a celebrity coach. Other families organize a special meal at home or in a pub or restaurant. A common Father’s Day meal is a traditional roast dinner with meat, stuffing, potatoes and vegetables, which can be eaten in a pub and accompanied by pints of ale or lager.

How about you? How are you planning to celebrate Father´s Day?

Do you think your father – or fathers you know – would enjoy being given something different this year like driving a really fast car (Ferrari for example), skydiving or having a flying lesson?

Do you have a special way to honour your father at home?

For further information you can go to:

– Father’s Day in the United Kingdom

– Father’s Day recipes – BBC

– Father’s Day recipes

– Father’s Day Experience Gifts