Happy Father's Day

Today Australia, Fiji, New Guinea and New Zealand celebrate Father's Day and for many Australians, it's going to be a very different Father's Day this year given the coronavirus pandemic and states in lockdown. I lost my dad in May last year so this is the second Father's day without him, but along with my wife and two daughters we will be thinking of him today as we celebrate.

Social-distancing restrictions mean the usual family get-together's today may not be possible, while travel restrictions mean many of us won't be able to get across state borders to visit our families in person. What ever you do I hope you have a great day.

I always thought Father's day was the same day all over the world. Each country sets its own dates for Father's Day and has some of its own traditions around the opportunity to show love to Dad at home and in the community. Traditions vary for Father's Day celebrations around the world. For example, some countries link Father's Day to the Feast of St. Joseph on March 19, which celebrates Joseph of Nazareth, father of Jesus. In Germany, Father's Day is commonly celebrated by men loading wagons with beer and heading off into the woods. In Russia, Father's Day overlaps with their Defender of the Fatherland Day. So, while fathers are honored, many of them march in military parades in their home towns on the same day. 

Below is a list of counties and dates for Father's Day

U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
The date varies in these countries, but it always falls on the third Sunday in June.
2020: June 14
2021: June 20

Austria and Belgium
These two countries are aligned with each other (but not many others) on when to celebrate Father's Day.
2020: June 7
2021: June 13

Samoa and Brazil
August is the month to honor dads in these two countries.
2020: August 9
2021: August 8

Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden
Much of Scandinavia celebrates Father's Day in November.
2020: November 8
2021: November 14

Countries Where Father's Day is Celebrated Annually on March 19
These seven countries all share a March tradition of when to celebrate Father's Day.

Andora
Bolivia
Honduras
Italy
Liechtenstein
Portugal
Spain

Other Countries' Father's Day Dates

Each of these countries has picked its own date to celebrate Father's Day. Some are calendar-based and some are on the same date each year.

Germany: sixth Sunday after Easter
Romania: second Sunday in May
Togo: third Sunday in May
Russia: February 23 every year
Egypt: June 21 each year
El Salvador: June 17 each year
Guatemala: June 17 each year
Haiti: last Sunday in June
Jordan: June 21 each year
Lebanon: June 21 each year
Lithuania: first Sunday in June
Nicaragua: June 23 each year
Poland: June 23 each year
Syria: June 21 each year
Uganda: June 21 each year
Dominican Republic: last Sunday in July

Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there,  I hope you have a wonderful day.

Rest in peace Dad, I miss you and love you so much.