FATHERS DAY. Dad’s big day has come again. Find out about its date and its history, as well as good gift ideas and messages that can inspire you.
Father’s Day takes place every year on the third Sunday of June in France (see here for the specific date in 2024). And the commercial and religious origins of the date of Father’s Day draw their sources from more ancient times than one might believe… Sometimes described as “business”, the celebration nevertheless represents a privileged opportunity to spoil the fathers.
On “Dad’s Day”, finding the perfect gift can sometimes be a challenge. Luckily, we’re here to help you find the perfect gift idea. Why not opt for a personalized gift? The possibilities are numerous: engraved key rings, personalized mugs, photo albums filled with precious memories or even engraved jewelry.
If you prefer to express your feelings in words, you can also consider writing a special message or poem for your father. It’s a touching way to show him how much he means to you. Let your creativity run wild and express everything you feel. However, we understand that not everyone feels comfortable writing such things. If you’re having trouble finding the right words, don’t worry! We have thought of everything. In this article you will find templates for messages and poems that you can customize according to your needs.
The date of Father’s Day 2024 is set for this Sunday, June 16, approximately three weeks after Mother’s Day, Sunday May 26. Father’s Day always takes place on the third Sunday in June without exception, when Mother’s Day must in certain years give way to Pentecost and therefore recovers the following Sunday, so can take place in May or June.
The average budget devoted to the paternal present amounts to 49.98 euros. Here are additional ideas for everyone! For dads who love comics, this is the perfect gift. Olivier Delcroix draws up his list of “100 cult comic book characters”, from Mafalda to Nickel-plated Feet, Gaston Lagaffe and Spirou.
- An “I Love Papa” gift box of Wonderboxso that he can choose his experience – gourmet dinner, helicopter baptism, oenology workshop, back massage, Ferrari driving… (€49.90)… or go see a football match
- A houseplantlike the Monstera proposed by Nature and discoveries (€49.90, available online only, optional planter)
- The coffee machine Nespresso design and compact Vertuo Next (€149)
- A tasting box of 6 rums from around the worldat the house of Bienmanger.com (€62.90)
- A gourmet box “Walk in Corsica”from Bienmanger.com (€34.95)
- An aluminum photo frame to standby Smart photo (€24.95)
- A subscription to a wine box 3, 6, 9 or 12 months, on Myvitibox (from 20€ / month)
- Azzaro Chrome Aqua eau de toilette with grapefruit-basil-vetiver accords, 100ml (€47.24 on Marionnaud.fr)
- An instant camera and photo printer for smartphones Instax mini LiPlay, via My Fujifilm (€149.99)
- A scratch card made by you to express your affection (explanations on France blue)
It’s not always easy to choose a present for a first Father’s Day with baby. Even more than for a “classic” Father’s Day, the personalized gifts are popular, like the aluminum hexagons from Smart photo (see here), which also offers photo books (see here), a photo on canvas (see here), a personalized cushion (see here) or even a printed bowl. As for Cheerz, which defines itself as an “easy photo printing site”, it offers a collection dedicated to both new dads and those who have had this role for longer: hexagonal photo magnet, photo album, photo on aluminum , retro magnet… or even personalized puzzle (see their collection) !
Sometimes the greatest gift comes simply from words. There are many ways to wish happy daddy’s day. For children in any case, the poem for dad remains a timeless piece, which will always please! If you have a slight desire to play the Baudelaires, there remains the message with your words or the little written attention. Finding a card or finding and decorating an original piece of paper shouldn’t be too complicated either, even come Father’s Day Sunday. Pulling out your cell phone to send a nice text message to your dad either. Sending a virtual card remains a simple and quick exercise. Linternaute.com also offers to wish a happy Father’s Day with special and often animated cards! Discover our cards and message ideas for Father’s Day below.
Although Christianity has no direct connection to Father’s Day, many sources have highlighted the glorification of fatherhood in this religious movement. The “creator” God of the Bible is often called “God the Father.” A state of affairs reinforced by the trinity of Catholic theology, which separates the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, the paternal figure is present in the place taken by Abraham, father of believers (19th century BC) and biblical patriarch. Jewish, Arab and Christian peoples all claim his descent.
Moreover, the father was formerly celebrated via the figure of the Roman “Pater familias”. This head of the family had uncontested authority over the wife, children or slaves. And was considered the cornerstone of ancient society. The motif has also crossed the centuries to the present day: among Christians, the fathers were of course members of the clergy. The Pope himself is called Holy Father by Catholics.
March 19, the date of Saint Joseph’s Day, has long been the occasion to celebrate fatherhood in Catholic, Lutheran or Anglican religions. Indeed, in the Bible, Joseph is the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. He is engaged to the young woman when she finds herself pregnant by the action of the Holy Spirit. Described as a “wise man”, he accepts the child and educates him: he is recognized as a saint in the Christian tradition. In Spain, this is even the date that is considered Father’s Day.
It is in the United States that the celebration of Father’s Day was born. The young Sonora Smart Dodd (1882-1978) was the daughter of a veteran of the Civil War, Henry Jackson Smart, a widower for many years. In 1909, she heard about Anna Jarvis’ initiative to initiate a Mother’s Day during a sermon delivered at a Methodist church in Spokane, Washington. The young woman then calls for a celebration of fatherhood, complementing Mother’s Day. She even suggests the birthday of her father, June 5. The pastors of the region took up the idea, even if they decided to establish the festival on the third Sunday of June: The first Father’s Day was organized in Spokane on June 19, 1910.
If the celebrations in Spokane quickly fade into anonymity, the idea of Father’s Day is launched. In the 1920s, American President Calvin Coolidge attempted to make it an official holiday, but was opposed by Congress. Parliamentarians fear that this reminder of paternal virtues will become, like Mother’s Day, a commercial scam. It was not until 1966 that President Lyndon Johnson recognized the ritual in an official proclamation. Six years later, Richard Nixon signed a law making it a day of national celebration. Father’s Day is definitely set for the third Sunday in June.
Father’s Day was first celebrated in France in 1952. As surprising as it may seem, we owe this arrival to a lighter manufacturer. The Flaminaire company, located in Redon, Brittany, is inspired by the American celebration and the windfall generated by the purchases of children and companions. On its posters, we can then read: “Our dads told us, for Father’s Day, they all want a Flaminaire”. Very quickly, companies and media took up this motif, which responded a few weeks later to Mother’s Day.