What is Father's Day?

Father's Day is held on the third Sunday of June in the United Kingdom. It takes place on Sunday 19th June this year. It is a day to celebrate fathers and father figures like carers or grandfathers. The day is used to recognise the sacrifices and challenges your Dad has had to go through in order to raise you.

History of Father’s Day

Since Medieval times, an early version of Father’s Day was being celebrated by Catholic nations in Europe. It was called Saint Joseph’s Day and was celebrated each year on March the 19th. It commemorated Joseph, the husband of Mary, and how he raised Jesus as his own. Joseph was held up to be the ideal example of earthly fatherhood. Other fathers were to reflect on his example and then use it in their own parenting of their own children.

The first Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in the state of Washington.

There are several stories on how Father’s Day came to be, but the most widely accepted is of a woman called Sonora Louise Smart Dodd from Washington. After Sonora’s mother died in childbirth with her sixth child, her dad was left to bring up the family. In 1909 whilst she was in church, she heard a speech about Mother’s Day and got the idea that dads should be celebrated too. She went to the YMCA, shopkeepers, government officials and local churches to get support for her idea and it was successful. Several of the local clergymen liked and accepted the idea and it is believed that 19th of June 1910 was the first unofficial Father’s Day.

The campaign to celebrate the nation’s fathers however did not meet with the same enthusiasm, most likely because as one florist explained, “fathers haven’t the same sentimental appeal that mothers have”. When Father’s Day was first introduced, many laughed it off. This was mainly down to the belief that men should be the providers. This celebration was therefore ridiculed and parodied. It was also said to be another excuse to simply add another “XYZ celebratory Day” to the calendar. Fortunately for dads all over the world, Father’s Day quickly rose in popularity and within 30 years and this mindset faded.

However it took until 1972, 58 years after President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day official, that the day honouring fathers became a nationwide holiday in the United States.

In the United Kingdom, Mother’s Day is a very different holiday than it is in the United States. However, Father’s Day was adopted by the UK from the US and so shares similarities such as types of gifts.

How to celebrate Father’s Day today?

The classic way to celebrate Father’s Day typically involves spending time with your father or the father figures in your life, such as Grandparents. Small family gatherings and the giving of gifts are common festivities on Father’s Day both in the UK and in the US. Just this year the UK is expected to spend £700 Million on Father’s Day.

Due to technology being way more advanced in the world of today, sending gifts to your Dad who may not live close by is simple and quick. Products can be bought online and sent directly to the recipient, adding that extra little surprise. 

One of the most budget friendly ways to celebrate Father’s Day is sending a Father’s Day card. These are the most effective and simple way of getting your message across to your Dad, Grandad or any other Father figure in your life. One of the best things about getting a card is that it's a staple, low risk gift. The best type of cards to give are personalised cards as they feel extra special than your more generic and traditional cards. Why not try our ‘Happy Father's Day From The Bump Father's Day Card’ or our ‘Daddy Cool Father's Day Card’. Feeling super nice and crafty, why not try and make your own handmade card? 

Another type of gift you could think about giving on Father’s Day is a mug or coaster. This simple yet effective gift is a great gift idea as they are not only easily accessible but also widely liked. Buying a gift that you know your recipient will 100% love is key, and so a simple product like a mug or coaster is a much less risky buy. Why not try our ‘Dad's Coffee Goes Here Coaster Gift For Dad’ for the Father figure in your life who is obsessed with coffee. Another idea for a gift is a pen pot/desk organiser. Why not try our ‘Dad's Stuff Tidy Pot Gift For Dad’, perfect for a Dad who always has a messy unorganised desk. 

An even easier gift to find and purchase is chocolates. Available from almost any supermarket, boxes of chocolate may be a simple, quick and easy gift to get, but your recipient will still love it no less. Also, chocolate is a widely loved gift and so the risk of your Dad not liking it isn't too high.

Why not add to your celebrations by giving things other than with monetary value. Everything to celebrate Father’s Day doesn’t have to be a gift. For example, you could plan a day out with a picnic, make your Dad breakfast in bed or even help him out with some housework. 

Remember, you can always make Father's Day extra special with some thought and care and it is never about how much you spend, but the thought behind it.

Want more Father's Day gift ideas?

Browse our full range of Father's Day cards and gifts here.