Top 10 Father’s Day Facts
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Father’s Day is a time where we can recognize all the great things our dads do for us. However, do you really know this holiday? Check out the top 10 Father’s Day facts and learn more about this great day!
Table of Contents
Originally was mocked
Father’s Day was originally seen as a big joke. In fact, many local newspapers said that it was unnecessary and that if we were going to be celebrating fathers why not celebrate ‘National Clean Your Desk Day’?[1]Ideal Home – 10 things you never knew about Fathers Day
It has always been second best
From the founding of Father’s Day, it has always taken a back seat to Mother’s Day. While the holiday was originally started in the early 1900s, it was only officially recognized by President Richard Nixon in 1978, which was 58 years after Mother’s Day official recognition.[2]Reader’s Digest – 13 Things You Didn’t Know About Fathers Day
A long held tradition
Even though people didn’t officially recognize the holiday until recently, people have been honoring their father’s for a long time. In fact, one of the earliest known Father’s Day “cards” was given around 4,000 years ago by Elmesu in Babylon who gave his dad a clay card wishing his father “good health and long life”.[3]Fox News – Fathers Day: 5 little known facts about the holiday
4th most popular card-sending holiday
It is the 4th most popular card-sending holiday in the USA coming after Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day with around 72 million cards sent out each year.[4]The Daily Meal – 15 Things You Didn’t Know about Fathers Day
Father’s Day cards
Interestingly, while Father’s Day may be the 4th most popular card-sending holiday, around 20% of those cards are actually given to husbands![5]school on wheels – 10 Fathers Day Facts
German Father’s Day
People don’t celebrate Father’s Day the same around the world. In fact, in Germany, Father’s Day, also known as Vatertag, Männertag (men’s day), or Herrentag (gentlemen’s day), is celebrated on Ascension Day (the Thursday 40 days after Easter). On this day, it is traditional for groups of men to go on hikes. On these hikes, they will pull small wagons called Bollerwagen, filled with wine, beer, and traditional German food such as Hausmannskost.[6]Beef 2 Live – Fathers Day Fun Facts
Chinese Father’s Day
In China, people celebrate the holiday on the 3rd Sunday of June. However, traditionally they used to celebrate it on August 8th. The reason was that in Chinese, the word for eight is “ba”. In addition, the colloquial way to say dad in Chinese is “ba-ba”. Therefore, saying the 8th day of the 8th month, sounds like you are saying “dad” in Chinese.[7]eParenting – 10 Fathers Day Facts & Trivia
Thai Father’s Day
In Thailand, the holiday falls on the same day as the King’s birthday. On this day, Thais give their fathers Canna flowers and wear the King’s color yellow. In addition, Thais hold many religious ceremonies on this day with fireworks and parties at night.[8]For teachers for students – Fathers Day lower primary
Around the word
People celebrate Father’s Day at different times all around the world.[9]Ducksters – Holiday’s Fathers Day
- Australia and New Zealand – 1st Sunday of September
- Brazil – 2nd Sunday of August
- Denmark – June 5
- Egypt and Syria – June 21
- Indonesia – November 12
- Russia – February 23
Roses
The official flower of the holiday is the rose. On this day it is traditional for you to wear a red rose on your lapel if your father is alive and a white rose if your father is deceased.[10]Chiff – Fathers Day Fun Facts & Trivia
References
