Father's Day

On the 2nd Sunday of November we celebrate Father’s Day (isänpäivä) in Finland. This year it will next Sunday 8.11.2015. This is not a very old tradition.

Celebration of Father’s Day dates back in 1980s. The day was marked on the university’s calendar already in 1970-1972, but without a permission. And when it was noticed the date was removed. In year 1987 the university saw that the celebration of Father’s Day had become so popular that it could be marked on the calendar. So the day got the marking and it was also marked as flagging day at the same time. But it is not an official flagging day as is for example Mother’s Day (celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of May in Finland).

Father’s Day is more of a commercial day than actual celebration day in Finland. And in the nordic countries it was first introduced by the Swedish merchants in 1949. Of course we remember our fathers on Father’s Day.

Children make cards and little gifts for their dads at school or daycare. Quite many kindergartens have some kind of coffee or event on the preceeding Friday. In quite many homes father gets to sleep a little bit later on that Sunday and mother and the children bring breakfast to father to bed. In addition to selfmade gifts dad usually gets a bought gift too, like socks, scarf, gloves, aftershave or a book.

And not to forget the grandfathers. Father’s Day is also their day. So remember with card and small gift also the grandfathers.

My family takes the breakfast to bed to our dad. In the afternoon we go for a coffee and cake to my parents’ to celebrate the day with grandfather too. The children’s father usually gets a movie or a book and grandfather gets a book or a new tool for his hobby.

Happy Father’s Day to all fathers and grandfathers!