In Australia, Father’s Day is the first Sunday in September. Originally, Father’s Day was celebrated on March 19 in honour of Saint Joseph.
In modern times, Father’s Day is celebrated around the world on different dates, however, many countries use the American date, which is the third Sunday in June. In Australia, Father’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in September.
A day for celebrating fatherhood dates back to around 1508 and was celebrated on the Feast of St Joseph, Jesus’ foster father. The tradition was then taken to America and was supported actively by the Catholic Church. In 1910, Sonora Smart Dodd attempted to establish father’s Day celebrations in Washington. However, by 1920 the day had faded into obscurity. By 1930, Dodd attempted to revitalise the celebration to raise awareness at a national level. By 1938, she had the help of the Father’s Day Council which was created to strengthen and commercialise the holiday. By the 1980s, the Father’s Day celebration had taken hold and was widely celebrated.
In Australia, the celebration was believed to be first mentioned in the Newcastle Sun in 1936. The article promoted a Father’s Day meeting, with hopes to establish Father’s Day and make it as popular as Mother’s Day. Father’s Day was officially designated as the first Sunday in September in 1964. No reason was officially given for the choice of date, but it is widely believed to be due to commercial benefit.
Most Australians celebrate Father’s Day by showing their appreciation for their fathers or father figures. Most fathers receive a gift and words of thanks and appreciation for all that they do. Father’s Day is an opportunity to show gratitude and appreciation for all of the sacrifices a father (or father figure) makes in raising and supporting his family.
How do you say thank you on Father’s Day?
