Father’s Day - 5 Tips for What To Give Dad

Celebrated on the third Sunday of June, the modern-day concept of Father’s Day emerged in parallel with Mother’s Day, though its path to recognition faced quite some resistance. Inspired by a 1909 Mother’s Day sermon, Sonora Smart Dodd campaigned to create a counterpart honoring fathers after being raised by her widowed Civil War veteran father, William Jackson Smart. An earlier, lesser-known but near-similar commemoration had taken place in Fairmont, West Virginia, on July 5, 1908, to honor 362 men who died in a coal mine explosion—the Monongah Mine Disaster. However, this was just a one-time commemoration.

The first official Father’s Day celebration took place on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington, where local churches and the YMCA endorsed Sonora's idea. But despite early support from figures like President Calvin Coolidge in 1924, the holiday struggled to gain momentum partly due to perceptions of commercialization, as retailers initially promoted it to sell ties, tobacco pipes, and other ‘masculine’ goods. Sonora’s persistent efforts, coupled with strategic partnerships with trade groups in the 1930s, gradually normalized the holiday. It eventually gained federal recognition nearly six decades after its inception.

Celebrating Fatherhood and Paternal Influences

Father's Day has evolved into a global celebration honoring fatherhood and paternal influences. Its historical roots that stretch back over a century take into account cultural adaptations that reflect diverse societal values. The holiday gained formal recognition in 1972 when President Richard Nixon established it as a permanent national observance in the United States.

While modern celebrations often involve gift-giving and family activities, the day’s history reveals an elaborate interplay of personal initiative, religious traditions, and commercial interests that shaped its global trajectory. Its traditions vary significantly across cultures, often blending local customs with imported practices. In Germany, for instance, Vatertag coincides with Ascension Day, featuring all-male hiking groups pulling wagons filled with beer and regional foods—a tradition rooted in 18th-century Christian processions that evolved into raucous celebrations.

Japan’s approach reflects its gift-giving culture, with presents ranging from premium wagyu beef to traditional sake. A unique 1980s campaign popularized yellow roses as symbols of paternal safety and happiness, while schools host events where children perform skits or craft handmade cards. In Mexico, families bond over marathons like the Carrera Día del Padre 21K Bosque de Tlalpan, combining physical activity with environmental advocacy, alongside feasts featuring grilled meats and pan dulce.

India’s celebrations highlight generational respect, with temple visits and rituals honoring fathers’ spiritual roles, while urban families increasingly adopt Western-style restaurant dinners. Brazil emphasizes multi-generational gatherings, where extended families host barbecues and children perform in school recitals. These variations highlight the holiday’s flexibility in adapting to local values while maintaining its core focus on familial gratitude.

Tips for What to Give Dad on Father’s Day

So, what do men want for Father's Day? Does anyone have a clue? Well, there are more sensible options than you'd figure. Let's scan opinions throughout the world and see what we can do to cheer up Dad this Sunday. Notably, Father's Day is not just a fad or something of the modern era, used as a commercial invention to increase sales of stuff fathers like. Archaeologists have found proof of kids wishing their fathers good health and long life in ancient Babylonia, nearly 4,000 years ago.

Tip 1: Big and Bold

Generally speaking, men like things bigger and rougher than women, right? And preferably not so complicated. So, the first tip is to get him something big and bold, like Hydrangeas or big-headed lilies. You might try to go for huge Roselilies with double flowers on them.

Tip 2: Easy Care

Anthuriums last for an eternity, at least, they seem to do so compared to other flowers in a bouquet. And they need little attention since they don't drink so much. So, they are perfect for busy fathers. Also, gerberas are slow drinkers and last quite long. And what about a mono bunch of Chrysanthemums, either spray or disbudded? Strong and highly decorative in a nice vase. 

Tip 3: Symbolic Value

There are, believe it or not, flowers with a high symbolic value for men. The white or red rose is the official flower for Father's Day. One of the founders of modern-time Father's Day, Sonora, suggested that people wear a white rose to honor a father who was deceased and a red rose for a father who was living.

Tip 4: Sustainability

Fathers have kids. Kids have a future and the right to a clean planet. Therefore, it is in your own interest, dear kids, to guarantee your own well-being. There are many environmentally aware grown flowers, but did you consider giving Dad a plant? Green plants are easiest to care for, and the bigger the leaf, the more oxygen you get back from it. Of course, a Hydrangea plant is also highly decorative.

Tip 5: Gratitude

In the end, these are just tips. Don't worry too much, Dad will like it anyway, whether he mentions it or not. It's the gift and attention that are most important. In the Netherlands, there is a saying that goes: "Never look a gift horse in the mouth", meaning you should always be grateful when somebody gives you a present. Gratitude will always save the day, but don't worry about that. I am sure that, deep in his heart, any man appreciates flowers or a plant.  

There is so much you can do to appreciate your dad; show them that you acknowledge their efforts. So, what do you have in store for your dad this Father's Day?

Feature image by @portanovaroses, header image by Toa Heftiba.