Father's Day 2021 - traditions and gifts

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Father's Day 2021 falls on 14 November. As you may know, we like to delve into different traditions, and today it's all about Father's Day. We offer facts about the day and give you some gift ideas. For example, did you know that the initiator of Father's Day grew up with a single father and that the day is celebrated on a variety of dates around the world?

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Why do we celebrate Father's Day?

Father's Day is a holiday where children celebrate their fathers. It originated in the United States in the 1910s. It was initiated by a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd in Spokane, Washington State. She wanted to find a way to honour her father, William Smart, who raised her and her five siblings alone after his wife died in childbirth while giving birth to their sixth child.

Sonora's initiative spread and in 1924 President Calvin Coolidge declared his support for the idea. However, it was not until 1966 that President Lyndon B. Johnson decided that the entire United States would celebrate Father's Day on the third Sunday in June.

When do you celebrate Father's Day?

Father's Day is celebrated on different dates in different countries. In Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland and Estonia we celebrate on the second Sunday of November. When the custom came to Sweden in 1931, we initially celebrated in June, just like in the United States. Then the Nordic trade community realised that November would be more suitable, and more closely aligned with Mother's Day, which falls on the last Sunday in May.

The US still celebrates the third Sunday in June, as do a number of other countries such as the UK, Argentina, France, Greece and China. Denmark also celebrates in June, but has decided that 5 June, which is also its national day, is the most appropriate date.

Other countries celebrate in completely different months. For example, Russians celebrate in February, Spaniards in March, Brazilians in August, Australians in September and Thais in December. The Germans celebrate on Ascension Day and the Nepalese on the day of the full moon in September.

Father's Day in Sweden

The tradition of Father's Day in Sweden has been spread by retailers, which means that it has sometimes been criticised for being commercial, but also by the media and schools. The celebration consists of children honouring their father, for example with a card or gifts, morning attention, coffee and perhaps cake.

However, not everyone has always been in favour of the celebrations. According to Nordic Museum many older people were initially negative, calling it "unnecessary fluff". Other criticisms include that the holiday celebrates conservative family values and that it excludes children who do not have a father.

Father's Day 2021

Father's Day 2021 is celebrated in Sweden on Sunday 14 November.

Presents on Father's Day

According to the Nordic Museum, the tie is still the most common Father's Day gift. Since the 1930s, Father's Day gifts have had a clear link to the male role. In addition to ties, traditional gifts have included men's clothes, war novels, cigars and aftershave.

When we Google Father's Day gifts today, we still find some classic male products, such as beard trimmers, morning slippers, whiskey and various tech gadgets. But the male role is perhaps a little less rigid today and we also find suggestions for gifts such as bath towels, shower gel, coffee machine, cheese knives, dishcloth holders and a changing bag in the form of a backpack.

Find great Father's Day gifts on our online shop (promotional)

Of course, we want to advertise all the great Father's Day gifts which you can find in our online shop. Does dad like boating? Then you can find many marine products in the form of trivets, coasters and wine corks. All products are made of silicone, which is a durable and environmentally friendly material (a personal favourite is the coasters with Swedish lighthouses, where you can choose the lighthouses that fit best).

Does dad prefer camping? Then there are plenty of products to choose from. You can browse through blankets, towels, potholders, trivets, key rings and much more. All products have a stylish design with a motorhome or caravan theme.

What are your thoughts and traditions?

Now we want to hear your thoughts! What are your thoughts on Father's (and Mother's) Day? Do you or someone close to you celebrate the day? If so, in what way?

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