Our fathers do so much for us and our happiness. They deserve a day that is fully dedicated to them so that they can understand our respect and gratitude towards them, and that is why we celebrate Father’s Day.
Father’s Day 2024 Date:
Father’s Day is a global occasion and this year, it will fall on 16th June 2024 in India. Just like we celebrate Mother’s Day, Father’s Day has also gained popularity as fathers deserve to be celebrated just as much as mothers do. People around the world celebrate Father’s Day on different dates. In fact, it is considered a public holiday in Lithuania and some areas of Spain and a national holiday in South Korea, Estonia and Samoa.
Father’s Day 2024 History:
The history of Father’s Day is very unique and interesting. For hundreds of years, the eastern orthodox church celebrated this thing called ‘Sunday of the Forefathers’ to pay respect to Adam and Abraham, their Christian patriarch. A feast was held to celebrate this day anywhere between 11 and 17 December.
The idea of Father’s Day emerged somewhere in the early 1500s in Catholic Europe. 19th March of every year is dedicated to celebrating this day, referred to as the feast day of Saint Joseph. In Catholicism, Saint Joseph is called the “putative father of Jesus” and “nourisher of the Lord”. Gradually, people from Spain and Portugal brought this tradition to the United States. St. Joseph’s Day became a household celebration for the Catholics of America. The Coptic Orthodox Church also celebrates Saint Joseph as their father, but instead of celebrating him on 19th March, they do it on 20 July.
When it came to the general public of the United States, not everyone wished to dedicate a day to Saint Joseph. It was in 1908 that Grace Golden Clayton suggested that a day should exist to commemorate the men who lost their lives in a major mining accident in the States, but her idea was rejected. Soon after in 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd convinced higher authorities to dedicate a day to the fathers of the country. Sonora, along with six of her brothers, were raised by their father alone. When she attended church on Mother’s Day, she felt the need for the existence of a Father’s Day as well. The first ever official Father’s Day was thus celebrated on 19 June 1910 at the YMCA in Washington. The credit for this idea however still goes to Clayton as she was the first one to light this spark. The celebration of Father’s Day also facilitated a day dedicated to men other than fathers. This day is called the International Men’s Day and is usually celebrated on 19 November.
Just like many other countries, the concept of Father’s Day came to India due to Western influence. Every year, the third Sunday of June is dedicated to celebrating the fathers of India. All big cities take part in the celebrations. In the North-East, Father’s Day is marked as a huge day when Christians of that area come together in church to celebrate their fathers as a part of their Sunday Service.
Father’s Day 2024 Celebration:
While we are here, let’s discuss some fun ways to celebrate Father’s Day.
1. A small road trip:
A road trip with your loved ones is always a fun time, and what better way to have fun with your family on the occasion of Father’s Day? I’m sure all fathers around the world are tired of driving around their kids. This time take the steering wheel in your own hands and drive to your father’s favourite locations with him in the passenger seat. Bonus point if you put his favourite snacks on his seat before he sits in the car!
2. Bake together:
Baking will not only give you a fun time with your dad, but at the end of it, you will have yourself a nice treat to enjoy with him. Special occasions require something sweet to celebrate them. Bake some lip-smacking goodies, like muffins, cinnamon rolls, brownies, or anything else. Spending time together while baking will create a special bond between you and your father and he will always associate the act of baking with you.
3. Organise a family workout:
If your father is a health freak, this one will surely blow his mind. Plan a workout for the whole family together. Not only is this fun, but it will also show your father that you pay attention to his likes and dislikes. You can book Zumba or yoga instructors online who can come to your house and help you and your loved ones work out.
4. Karaoke night:
Whether it is with your family or friends, karaoke is always a fun time. Get some snacks from the store and download all your dad’s favourite songs. Nothing will make him happier than jamming out to his favourite tunes. Organising a karaoke night is easy as you only need a TV or speaker to play the music. Having mics does not matter, what matters is having a blast with your family.
5. Make him a brunch spread:
If your father is a foodie, then you need to try this activity. Make him a beautiful spread of all his favourite dishes for brunch. Don’t worry about leftovers since he will eat them for dinner too! As the saying goes, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!
6. Plan a game night:
I am sure when you have not played board games in very long. I would suggest you reach the back of your storage rooms and find all your old, dusty board games for a special night on Father’s Day. It will be playfully competitive and fun for you and your loved ones to play games like Monopoly, Ludo, Snakes and Ladders and more. I’m sure your father will feel a sort of nostalgic bliss playing the games he used to play as a child, but this time with his children.
7. Art and Craft:
You can never go wrong with some art and craft to make a special day memorable. Buy some canvases, paints, and paintbrushes from your nearby store and that is all you need for this activity. You and your loved ones can all try to paint the same pictures by memory, and see who paints the best. You can also try a game where one of you paints on a canvas for five minutes and then passes it on to the next person to add to the existing painting. Keep passing the canvas every five minutes and see what you end up with.
8. Picnic:
A picnic is a simple yet sweet way to celebrate this special occasion of Father’s Day with your family. Get some snacks such as sandwiches, chips, chocolates, and a small cake for celebration. Take your baskets to a nearby park and lay it all down. If you don’t have a park anywhere near you, don’t worry. Just follow the same steps, but instead, do them in your backyard. It is less about the action and more about the effort that you put in.
9. Movie night:
All of us have a favourite movie and so do our fathers. What better way to celebrate him than by creating a theatre at home that runs his favourite movie on the screen? Make him some buttery popcorn with a can of Coke and I’m sure he will have the time of his life. If you have a projector, make sure to use it so that the movie can be displayed on a bigger, theatre-like screen.
10. Camping:
This one is for all the adventurous dads out there. Get your tents out since it is time to go camping. It is a warm, fun-filled activity your father will always cherish. Imagine having toasted marshmallows while listening to your father’s horror stories – it doesn’t get better than this! if there is no campsite near you, then just set up your tent in your backyard, and you will be good to go.
Father’s Day 2024 Significance:
Father’s Day has been given a lot of significance and rightfully so. It is so important to express our gratitude to someone who has supported us all our life. It has been psychologically proven that children with involved fathers turn out to be much smarter, sharper and emotionally intelligent than children with uninvolved fathers. This means that fathers help in the overall shaping of their children and help improve their skills and confidence in every aspect of their lives. Most fathers work hard not only at home but also in their workplaces. They work day in and day out to maintain a balance between work and personal life. This Father’s Day, we should all let our fathers know how important they are to us and how their hard work never goes unnoticed. Create memories that he will never forget. Trust me, just spending time with your father will mean the world to him. So what are you waiting for? Go and plan a Father’s Day celebration now!
Father’s Day 2024 Gifts:
Father’s Day 2024 is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to show appreciation for the special men in our lives. This year, make Father’s Day memorable by choosing thoughtful and unique gifts that will make your dad feel loved and appreciated. Consider personalized items like engraved watches or custom-made photo albums filled with cherished memories. For the tech-savvy dads, the latest gadgets or smart home devices are great options. If your dad enjoys relaxation, a spa day or a customized gift basket filled with his favorite treats will surely make him feel pampered. Whatever you choose, make Father’s Day 2024 unforgettable with a gift that truly reflects your dad’s interests and personality.