When was Father's Day in 2025 2025?

Father's Day Dates Around the World

The third Sunday of June is the most common Father's Day date, shared by the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, India, China, Japan, and many other countries. However, significant regional differences exist. Australia and New Zealand celebrate on the first Sunday of September, aligning with the start of Southern Hemisphere spring. Several Catholic countries — including Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Bolivia — observe Father's Day on March 19th (St. Joseph's Day), honouring Joseph as the model father figure.

Other dates are tied to national history or culture. Thailand celebrates on December 5th, the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, when fathers receive yellow canna flowers. Russia's Defender of the Fatherland Day on February 23rd serves a similar cultural role. In the Nordic countries, Father's Day falls on the second Sunday of November, well after the June date observed by most English-speaking nations. Germany marks Vatertag on Ascension Day (40 days after Easter), often celebrated with hiking excursions and outdoor gatherings.

Father's Day in the United States is celebrated on the third Sunday in June each year. In 2026, Father's Day falls on June 21st. Like Mother's Day, it moves with the calendar and can fall anywhere between June 15th and June 21st.

Origins and History

The modern Father's Day was proposed by Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, in 1910. Inspired by a Mother's Day sermon she heard at church the previous year, Dodd wanted to honor her own father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran who had raised six children as a single parent after the death of his wife. She lobbied local churches, the Spokane YMCA, and government officials to create an equivalent day for fathers. The first Father's Day celebration was held in Spokane on June 19, 1910.

Despite Dodd's efforts, Father's Day struggled to gain the same traction as Mother's Day for decades. President Calvin Coolidge supported it in 1924, and Presidents Wilson and Roosevelt both endorsed it, but it remained informal. Congress officially recognized Father's Day as a national holiday only in 1972, when President Richard Nixon signed it into law — nearly six decades after the first celebration in Spokane.

Father's Day dates vary around the world. The United Kingdom and Ireland observe it on the same day as the United States — the third Sunday in June. Australia and New Zealand, however, celebrate Father's Day on the first Sunday in September. Several other countries observe it on different dates altogether, often tied to national or religious traditions.

How It Is Celebrated

Father's Day is typically marked with gifts, family gatherings, and quality time spent with fathers and father figures. Popular gifts include tools, sporting goods, clothing, and experiences such as golf outings or restaurant meals. Greeting cards are widely exchanged. The day is also used to honor grandfathers, stepfathers, and other paternal figures. Many families opt for a home-cooked meal or backyard barbecue rather than dining out. While it has become increasingly commercialized, the holiday retains a personal quality, with homemade gifts and handwritten notes remaining popular — especially from younger children.

For more information, see Father's Day on Wikipedia