The History of Father’s Day and Learn How To Say It In Different Languages

Father’s Day is just around the corner. This special day set aside to honor dads is typically celebrated on the third Sunday in June in the US, where the tradition first originated. Many other countries celebrate on this day as well, but some observe Father’s Day on varying dates.

After Anna Jarvis created the widely popular and commercially successful holiday of Mother’s Day, there were those who thought other family members should be similarly honored. Many thought a day to recognize Dad would be the best bet for success. Sondra Smart Dodd is often credited with spearheading the efforts to have fathers officially recognized.

Father’s Day was founded in the YMCA of Spokane, WA by Mrs. Dodd. She wanted to pay homage to her own father, a Civil War veteran and single parent who raised six children. She campaigned for the holiday in the early 1900s but didn’t get much momentum until the late 1920s. Unbelievably, the US government did not recognize Father’s Day as an official holiday until Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972.

Internationally, Father’s Day is celebrated in many different manners with varying level of ceremony. Germany, for example, celebrates in its own manner. In some regions of northern Germany, Männertag (Men’s Day) orHerrentag (Gentleman’s Day) is celebrated on Ascension Day instead of Father’s Day (or Vatertag). It’s more of a “men’s night out” for any male, not just the dads. One might say “Alles guten zum Herren Tag” to any gentleman whether he is a father or not.

Here are few ways to wish someone Happy Father’s Day in a few other languages.

• Dutch: De gelukkige Dag van Vaders.
• Irish: Lá na Athair.
• Mandarin: Fu Qing Jie Kuai Le.
• Italian : Giorno di padri felice.
• French: Bonne fête des pères.
• Swedish: Grattis på farsdagen.
• Indonesian: Selamat hari ayah.
• Polish: Wszystkiego najlepszego z okazji dnia ojca.
• Romanian: Ziua Tatălui.

Whether your nation recognizes Father’s Day as an official holiday or not, it is an excellent opportunity to tell the father or father figure in your life how much you appreciate him. His influence in your life cannot be measured by mere words, but they are our only means of expressing our love and admiration.

Take a moment this June and let the man in your life know how powerful and positive his presence has been in your mind and heart. He will never forget your words of gratitude.