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Father's Day Australia

Father’s Day is a holiday that honours Fathers and father figures and celebrates fatherhood. It's also a good opportunity for us to reflect on the influence of paternal bonds and Fathers in society today.

This year, Father's Day in Australia will be celebrated on the 3rd of September. For millions of Aussie families, that means children will give their Dads homemade cards, families will gather for meals, and there will be lots of laughter going around.

If you're interested in finding Dad a Father's Day gift, we recommend browsing our range. Our range spans the following categories:

• Father's Day gifts
• Father's Day hampers
• Father's Day gift packs
• Personalised Father's Day gifts
• Father's Day beer, BBQ, and bar gifts
• Father's Day books for Dad

Or, if you're interested in learning more about Father's Day, read on. We'll discuss it in detail in this article.

FAQs about Father's Day

When is Father’s Day in 2023?

This year, Father's Day will be held on the 3rd of September, 2023. Australia's Father's Day is always celebrated on the first Sunday of September. This day also happens to be the first Sunday of spring.

What date is Father's Day in Australia?

The date that Father's Day will fall on this year is Sunday, the 3rd of September, 2023. Father's Day always falls on the first Sunday of September, so the date can be from the 1st to the 7th.

Here's a table showing the date that Father's Day fell on in Australia over the past nine years:

Why is Father's Day a different date in Australia?

Australia celebrates Father's Day in September, while many other countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June. There are a few reasons why we don't follow the same schedule as other countries, including that:

• We're a Commonwealth country, and the Commonwealth declared that the first Sunday of September is to be celebrated as Father's Day in 1964.
• We already celebrate many national and public holidays in the first half of the year. So, if Father's Day was held in the first half of the year, Dads wouldn't get such a big celebration.
• We're in the southern hemisphere, so if we celebrated Father's Day at the same time as other countries, it would fall during winter. Celebrating Father's Day in spring allows families to enjoy our beautiful parks with their Dads.
• If we celebrated Father's Day in June, it would be less than a month from Mother's Day, and Mother's Day might overshadow it.

Is Father's Day held on the same day every year in Australia?

Yes and no. Father's Day is held on the same day in the sense that it always falls on the first Sunday of September/spring. However, because of this, the date differs slightly every year. So, the day is the same, but the date is different.

Is Father's Day a public holiday in Australia?

No, unfortunately, Father's Day (like Mother's Day) isn't a public holiday. However, it's still a national holiday, meaning it's celebrated in most schools and by most families.

Is Father's Day celebrated outside Australia?

Yes. Father's Day, internationally, is celebrated on a number of different dates. Some countries in the northern hemisphere, for example, celebrate it on the third Sunday of June (so it's during their summer).

Many cultures celebrate Father's Day quite differently, though gift-giving and sharing a meal as a family are common globally.

It's also worth noting that Father's Day isn't the only way fatherhood is celebrated. Fathers are honoured on International Men's Day on November 19th every year, and grandfathers are honoured on Grandparents Day on the last Sunday of October.

How is Father's Day celebrated in Australia?

Father’s Day in Australia is generally celebrated with gifts, a family meal, and one-on-one time with Dad.

Families with young children often cook breakfast in bed for Dad. Children also make their Dads cards and presents at school, and these are often presented during Father's Day celebrations and festivities.

Families with adult children and grandchildren often meet for brunch, lunch, or dinner.

What do people do on Father's Day?

Australians celebrate Father's Day in a number of ways, including having a BBQ picnic in the park, going for a walk on the beach, going for a bike ride, meeting with extended relatives, and giving Dad his Father's Day gifts.

Some families also have specific Father's Day traditions like going camping, having a movie night, or going to a particular restaurant.

Where did Father's Day come from originally?

Father's Day was originally a spin-off of Mother's Day. Mother's Day was started by Anna Jarvis, and the founder of the first Father's Day (Sonora Smart Dodd) drew inspiration from Jarvis. The first Father's Day was in 1910.

The first efforts to recognise Father's Day occurred in 1913 when a bill was introduced to the USA's Congress. This motion and the two that followed it were all shot down. Two US presidents would later try to recognise Father's Day, but both failed.

Father's Day was celebrated unofficially for many, many years. Then, efforts to recognise it officially started to gain steam again. Australia officially recognised Father's Day in 1958, and the Commonwealth followed suit in 1964. The USA finally recognised Father's Day in 1972.

Today, Father's Day is celebrated in many countries around the world.

What are your best Father’s Day ideas?

If you're looking for some fun activities to do with Dad this Father's Day, here are a handful of our best suggestions:

• Make home-brewed beer
• Have a fondue night
• Go on a virtual tour
• Play video games
• Do an obstacle course
• Build a fort
• Go on a scavenger hunt
• Go to a trampoline park
• Go star gazing
• Do a fun run

What should I do on my first Father's Day?

Anything you like! Some new Dads choose to celebrate Father's Day with their spouse and kid(s), while some new Dads prefer to bring the whole family (grandparents included) together. Other Dads prefer to have a day off so they can relax and enjoy a few minutes of solitude.

If it's your partner's first Father's Day, we recommend taking some casual photos he can look back on later, cooking him his favourite meal, and making sure he has some "me time".

What are some good quotes about Father's Day?

Here are some great quotes about Father's Day and Fathers:

• "When my Father didn't have my hand, he had my back." – Linda Poindexter
• "No man I ever met was my Father's equal, and I never loved any other man as much." – Hedy Lamarr
• "My Father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person; he believed in me." – Jim Valvano
• "An almost perfect relationship with his Father was the earthly root of all his wisdom." – C.S. Lewis
• "A Father carries pictures where his money used to be." – Steve Martin
• "I always thought you'd make a great Dad. Now, I know it. Happy Father's Day to an amazing husband." – Unknown

Who is celebrated on Father's Day?

Father's Day is a day to honour Fathers in all forms, including Dads, Fathers in law, uncles, grandfathers, adopted male parents, family members who took on a fatherly role in your life, and even your own Mother if you didn't have a Father.