When is Father's Day? Date and history

Every year the question comes up: when actually is Father's Day? In Denmark the answer is simple, because the day has a fixed spot on the calendar, but many people still get confused because their family in other Nordic countries celebrate it on a completely different date.

In this guide you'll find the date for the coming years, the story behind Father's Day in Denmark and the USA, and a short explanation of why the other Nordic countries chose November instead of June.

When is Father's Day in Denmark?

Father's Day falls on 5 June every year, whatever day of the week that happens to be. The date is fixed to Constitution Day, which is the closest thing Denmark has to a proper national day. That makes the date easy to remember, since many Danes have the day off or keep an eye on Constitution Day in the calendar anyway.

Unlike several other special days, Father's Day in Denmark doesn't move from year to year according to a particular Sunday. It stays fixed on the calendar date itself, and that's one of the things that sets the Danish Father's Day apart from the celebrations in the rest of the Nordics and in the USA.

Father's Day in the coming years: date and weekday

Because Father's Day always falls on 5 June, you can quickly see which day of the week it lands on in the coming years.

The story behind Father's Day

The first Father's Day in the world was celebrated on 19 June 1910 in Spokane, Washington, USA. In the USA, Father's Day still falls on the third Sunday of June every year.

In Denmark, Father's Day was introduced around 1935. From 1947 to 1956, the Danish Father's Day fell on the second Sunday of November, after Nordic merchants had worked to move the day. That never really caught on here, though, and the day was moved back to 5 June, where it has stayed ever since.

Father's Day in Norway, Sweden and the rest of the Nordics

In the other Nordic countries, Father's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of November, a completely different date to Denmark. If you have family or friends in Norway, Sweden or Finland, don't assume they celebrate Father's Day on the same day as at home.

The difference goes back to when Nordic merchants tried to get the whole region to agree on the November date. Denmark ended up going its own way and sticking with 5 June, while the other countries kept the November date.

How to celebrate Father's Day

Father's Day doesn't come with a fixed tradition of big gifts or ceremonies in Denmark. Most families keep it simple: a nice breakfast, a card and time together on 5 June.

• Set the breakfast table with a little something extra, ideally something that stands out from the everyday, like a mops salt and pepper set in stoneware from Quail.
• Write a card with a few words about what dad means to you, instead of just giving a thing.
• Set aside time to be together without other plans, even if it's just one morning.

Looking for a Father's Day gift?

Some choose to give a small gift for Father's Day, even though it isn't a fixed tradition in the same way as other special days. If you need concrete ideas for what dad can actually use, you can read more in the article Gift for dad: Ideas he didn't know he wanted.

You can also see the full range of Gifts for dad, if you want to browse for yourself.

Summary

Father's Day is fixed on 5 June in Denmark, on Constitution Day itself, while the other Nordic countries celebrate dad on the second Sunday of November. The day was introduced around 1935, fell in November from 1947 to 1956, and is today mostly celebrated with breakfast, a card and time together.

Read also

• Gift for dad: Ideas he didn't know he wanted
• How much should you spend on a gift? Rules and advice
• Gift wrap and wrapping: Complete the gift
• Gift for him: 8 ideas he'll actually use