“I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a parent’s protection.” – Sigmund Freud.
Do you remember the days as a child, when you used to wait for your father to come home at night? When did you jump into his arms… and share your exploits of the day with him? And with what patience would I listen to all your stories? How easily would you solve the most intricate problems? You would know his arrival by the simple knock on the door… you knew it was him. You knew him by his body odor, that relaxing scent that always seemed to reassure you that he was near. You knew him by the touch of him, the sounds of him, the walk of him… you knew him by instinct.
The image remains the same. Over time and in all geographic locations, the image of a child in relation to his father remains unchanged. No matter which corner of the world you belong to, the facets of your relationship with your father never seem to change: the games you played with him in the backyard, the long drives, the values you learn…the list is endless.
It is this universality of a father-son relationship that makes Father’s Day a worldwide event. While the dates vary by region, so does the language of wishing your dad a “Happy Father’s Day.”
This is how you would say “Happy Father’s Day” in different languages -
1) spanish – happy fathers day
2) Russian – Счастливый день отцов
3) Portuguese – Happy Country Day
4) Italian – Giorno di padri felice
5) German – Glücklicher Vatertag
6) French – Happy Father’s Day
7) Dutch – De gelukkige Dag van Vaders
Although most countries celebrate Father’s Day according to the American custom, on the third Sunday of June, however there are some regions where Father’s Day is celebrated on other dates. Argentina, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Ireland, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Zimbabwe follow the American custom (3rd Sunday in June) while Austria, Belgium and Costa Rica celebrate the event on the 2nd Sunday in June. In the southern hemisphere, Australia and New Zealand celebrate Father’s Day on the first Sunday in September. Russia celebrates the event on February 23 while in China Father’s Day is celebrated on August 8. Some countries again have a religious aspect to this event. While Iran celebrates Father’s Day according to the Islamic calendar on Rajab 13, Germany follows the biblical date of Ascension Day to celebrate the event. This year (2007) the date was May 17.
It does not matter on which date the event is celebrated, which language is used to wish – the central emotion of expressing love, respect and gratitude on this day remains unchanged.