Father's Day in Canada

How the country celebrates this holiday.

Today, June 18, all of Canada celebrates Father's Day. This unofficial holiday falls on the third Sunday in June, when most Canadians are already resting.

This holiday is dedicated to all fathers and father figures in the country. People honor not only their parents, but also the other important men in their lives — mentors, older friends and relatives. Employees congratulate supervisors they especially love, and students congratulate professors.

The holiday is believed to have been created by an American woman who was raised by her widowed father. It was first celebrated in 1910 in Washington, D.C. Then the holiday spread to 80 countries around the world — the idea of thanking their fathers on a special day appealed to many.

It is a family holiday, so all Canadian families celebrate it in different ways. They usually have a celebratory dinner, give their fathers, uncles, and grandfathers gifts, and go to the countryside or to a restaurant. Many prefer a more "masculine" holiday — fishing, hunting, and barbecues.

Father's Day gifts are a separate topic. Most Canadians begin to prepare them in advance. Stores have special offers for the holiday, and local media publish gift ideas. If the givers are of age and already have their own income, they prefer expensive and meaningful gifts, sometimes even luxurious: computers, tablets, wristwatches, shirts with a tie and cufflinks. It is not customary or shameful to give shaving foam and socks. Canadians often give hobby goods: hiking equipment, fishing rods, hunting rifles, things for the collection, books, etc. It is believed that such a gift should be made with heart. Everyone tries to find something that will please the particular dad. By the way, in Canada it is customary to give gifts with a receipt, so the giver can return them to the store and take something else, if he does not like the thing. This day is no exception.

Children try to impress their fathers with handicrafts: they diligently make cards, drawings, and various crafts. A cliché gift from them is a mug or cap that says "To the Best Dad. Canadians joke about such gifts, but every father is happy to receive them from his child. Then they keep them for life and try to use them more often. For loving parents, they are just as important as a child's first steps and first words.

By the way, in Canada it is customary to give bouquets of flowers and boxes of chocolates to men, not just to women. That is why children often give them to teachers.

At family dinners, it is customary to prepare the head of the family's favorite dishes and serve his favorite drink. Some families rent a table at Dad's favorite restaurant.