Since I myself am the father of two sons, I wanted to tell the story of Father’s Day. Since the traditions in our society are more and more forgotten or not familiar to some people, for example because they have moved from another cultural area, I have created an overview with the most important data.
Mother’s Day is a concept for most people, as it has also been established very successfully from a commercial point of view. Father’s Day, on the other hand, never reached the status of Mother’s Day, which I think is a pity. However, my prognosis is that it will reach the importance of Mother’s Day in the course of time. At least from a commercial point of view there is still a lot of potential. Initial search results on the Internet for Father’s Day gifts show that the market is already adapting and offering typical men’s gifts for this occasion in their portfolios.
What is Father’s Day?
Father’s Day is a day on which paternity is celebrated. At least in Germany, it is not an official holiday. It was placed on Ascension Day, a Christian holiday that is an official holiday throughout Germany.
Father’s Day is not celebrated uniformly throughout the world. It takes place in different countries on different days. There are always efforts to establish a uniform men’s day. However, these efforts have so far been unsuccessful.
How and where is Father’s Day celebrated?
Father’s Day has been celebrated since the Middle Ages, especially in Christian-Catholic regions. In many countries worldwide Father’s Day is celebrated. There was no uniform movement, in contrast to the Labour Day on May 1, for example, which would have established Father’s Day as a worldwide day. Rather, national and regional traditions were transformed.
In the area where I come from (Germany / Bavaria) Father’s Day is mainly celebrated by young people who, ironically, are not (yet) fathers. One goes in a group with a handcart through the area. It is loaded with alcoholic drinks, which are consumed during the wanderings. Since the day was laid on Corpus Christi, there is rather a reflection on the Christian origin of the day, less on Father’s Day as such, especially in strictly Catholic areas.
Here are some examples, inside and outside Europe, of how Father’s Day was established and how it is celebrated.
Germany
Depending on the region, different names are used, but celebrated throughout Germany on Ascension Day. Here the focus is also more on being a man than on being a father, so that it is mostly used to celebrate men among themselves.
In the GDR, Father’s Day was not an official holiday.
Austria
The focus here is on small gifts and flowers that the children hand over to their fathers. He is thus more oriented towards Mother’s Day than is the case in Germany.
Switzerland
Switzerland does not know Father’s Day. The custom is only celebrated in groups that bring Father’s Day to Switzerland through migration. Little by little, Father’s Day is also celebrated in public. However, the focus here is not on giving, but rather on the father’s role in society and the political framework. He is celebrated as a father child day.
United States of America
About 100 years ago the idea of Father’s Day was made public. It was planned in honour of a single war veteran with six children. In the 1970s, Father’s Day was finally declared an official holiday. The children give their fathers flowers, small gifts or recite poems.
What do you give for Father’s Day?
In contrast to Mother’s Day, flowers on Father’s Day are rather unusual in Germany. But that varies from father to father. I personally know men who are happy about indoor plants, but I have no feeling for them.
Typical men’s gifts are often praised. “Toys” such as drones, barbecue accessories, beauty products for men and the like.
Normally the children give presents to their fathers, which limits the possibilities from the point of view of the available budget. Personally, I have always received small gifts from my children. Sometimes they were made things from the kindergarten. But also bought little things which corresponded to my interests and expressed a high esteem.
Summary
Father’s Day is a beautiful tradition that honors fatherhood, which all too often is lost in its esteem. It is celebrated in many countries around the world, but on different days.
What a person gives on Father’s Day (if at all) should be oriented to the interests of the Father.