Father's Day Countdown
Counting down to Father's Day
How it works
Father's Day began in Spokane, Washington, when Sonora Smart Dodd campaigned for a day to honour fathers after hearing a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Her own father, William Jackson Smart, had raised six children as a single parent after his wife died in childbirth. The first Father's Day celebration took place on 19 June 1910 in Spokane, and the idea spread across the United States over the following decades. President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation in 1972 making Father's Day a permanent federal holiday, celebrated on the third Sunday in June.
The UK, United States, Canada, India, Japan, Mexico, and dozens of other countries all observe Father's Day on the third Sunday in June. Unlike Mother's Day — where the UK celebrates Mothering Sunday on a Lent-linked date while the US uses the second Sunday in May — Father's Day follows a single, consistent rule almost everywhere. That shared calendar makes it easy to plan cards, gifts, and family gatherings across borders without checking regional differences.
Some countries do mark Father's Day on other dates. Catholic nations in Europe, including Italy, Spain, and Portugal, traditionally honour fathers on 19 March — the feast day of St Joseph. Australia and New Zealand celebrate on the first Sunday in September, while Thailand holds its Father's Day on the King's birthday in December. This countdown uses the third-Sunday-of-June rule and automatically rolls forward to the following year once the current Father's Day has passed.
Frequently asked questions
When is Father's Day in the UK?
In the UK, Father's Day falls on the third Sunday in June every year. The exact date shifts between 15 June and 21 June depending on how the calendar lines up. Use the live countdown at the top of this page to see the precise date and time remaining until the next UK Father's Day.
When is Father's Day in the US?
In the United States, Father's Day is always the third Sunday in June — the same rule as the UK. It has been a federal holiday since 1972, when President Nixon signed the permanent proclamation. The date always falls between 15 June and 21 June.
Is Father's Day on the same date in the UK and US?
Yes. Both the UK and US celebrate Father's Day on the third Sunday in June, so the date is identical every year. This is unlike Mother's Day, where the UK observes Mothering Sunday on a different calendar rule from the US second-Sunday-in-May tradition.
What is the history of Father's Day?
Father's Day was founded by Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, who was inspired by the growing Mother's Day movement. After her mother died, her father William raised six children alone. Dodd proposed a Father's Day in 1909, and the first celebration was held on 19 June 1910. Congress and presidents issued proclamations over the years, and Richard Nixon made it a permanent US federal holiday in 1972, fixed to the third Sunday in June.
Do other countries celebrate Father's Day on a different date?
Yes. While most countries follow the third Sunday in June, several nations use their own dates. Italy, Spain, and Portugal traditionally celebrate on 19 March (St Joseph's Day). Australia and New Zealand observe the first Sunday in September. Thailand celebrates on the birthday of the late King Bhumibol in December. Always check locally if you are planning something abroad.
Is Father's Day a public holiday?
Father's Day is a recognised holiday in the United States and many other countries, but it is not a public holiday in the UK or US — schools, shops, and offices remain open as usual. It is a day for family gatherings, cards, and gifts rather than a day off work, unlike bank holidays or federal days of closure.