Each year’s calendar has some dates marked especially for what is celebrated on them. However, depending on each country, there are some dates that vary, such as Father’s Day or Mother’s Day. In the case of the first, in Spain it is celebrated every March 19 and taking advantage of this year we are going to review the reasons why not all countries follow the same tradition as in our country and when they do so.
Why in Spain it is celebrated on March 19
On March 19, Father’s Day is celebrated in Spain, coinciding with Saint Joseph’s Day. In fact, its origin dates back to the 1950s and is fundamentally focused on the Catholic tradition that we have in our country. The idea was promoted thanks to a campaign by Galerías Preciados, which was based on the idea of a teacher, Manuela Vicente Ferrero, who chose this day to celebrate a party in honor of the parents of her students.
As in our country, there are others who also celebrate Father’s Day on March 19 since they follow the Catholic tradition. Italy, Portugal and also Andorra are some that this coming Friday will pay tribute to all parents, although it should be noted that there are a greater number of countries that prefer to follow the tradition that was also confirmed in the United States in the middle of the last century.
Why is it celebrated on another date in other countries?
As we say, in Spain it is celebrated by continuing with the Catholic tradition of the festival of Saint Joseph’s Day. However, in the United States this holiday emerged in 1909. At that time, a young woman from Washington remained silent that there was no day of commemoration for parents as there was Mother’s Day. Sonora Dodd, the young woman who came up with the idea, admired her father, a Civil War veteran, and decided to organize a party for her that was close in date to her birthday, choosing therefore the 19th. June.
In 1972, President Richard Nixon decided to make it a permanent national holiday, keeping Father’s Day on the third Sunday in June. Many other countries, especially in Latin America, joined and celebrated the American tradition ever since. This day is also celebrated in countries in Asia and Africa, although it is not the only different date on which Father’s Day is celebrated.
For example, in countries like Russia, this holiday is celebrated on February 23, coinciding with Defenders of the Fatherland Day. In Thailand, on the other hand, it is celebrated on December 5 since it is the day of the birth of the sovereign Rama XI, who is considered the father of the entire nation. In Oceania, Father’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in September.
The dates on which Father’s Day is celebrated
- February 23: Russia
- March 19: Spain, Portugal, Italy, Andorra, Bolivia, Honduras, Mozambique, Morocco, Croatia, Liechtenstein and Ticino (Switzerland)
- May 8: South Korea
- May 13: Romania
- May 20: Tonga
- June 3: Switzerland (except Ticino) and Lithuania
- June 5: Denmark
- June 10: Austria and Belgium
- June 17: United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Burma, Brunei, Canada, Cambodia, China, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominica, Slovakia, Ethiopia, Philippines, France, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Macau, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Netherlands, Pakistan, Qatar, United Kingdom, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, South Africa , Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe
- June 21: Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Syria and Uganda
- June 23: Nicaragua vs. Poland
- June 24: Haiti
- July 15: Uruguay
- July 29: Dominican Republic
- August 8: Taiwan
- August 12: Brazil and Samoa
- Sept. 2: Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea
- September 9: Latvia
- September 16: Ukraine
- October 7: Luxembourg
- November 11: Estonia, Finland, Indonesia, Iceland, Norway and Sweden
- November 12: Indonesia
- December 5: Thailand
- December 26: Bulgaria