Shopping for Father’s Day can be tricky – we’ve all been there, hoping for a wellspring of ideas to stream from a historically shallow pool. If you’re barrel-scraping for something that will pass muster this year, perhaps a change of tack is in order. Along with the socks and loudly colored necktie, give him something he might not be expecting: quality time.
Try a few of the ideas below, and you can initiate a Father’s Day tradition that you both look forward to replicating every year in the future. Then that annual June dilemma can be put permanently to rest – a real coup for sons and daughters everywhere!
The History of Father’s Day
Perhaps contrary to popular belief, Father’s Day isn’t a card company creation; it began in 1909, when Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington campaigned for a counterpart to Mother’s Day. Permanently fixed in the calendar by Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon in 1966 and 1972 respectively, the day honors fathers and father figures alike – grandads, stepdads, godfathers, and uncles included.
Fatherhood isn’t exclusive to this country, of course; other cultures have their own unique Father’s Day rituals. In Thailand, December 5 is not only Father’s Day but the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, known as the ‘Father of the Nation.’ In Mexico, a 21km half-marathon on the third Sunday in June, the ‘Carrera del Día del Padre,’ attracts thousands of participants each year. And in Japan, Chichi no Hi (父の日) sees children present their fathers with candy, alcohol, or flowers.
Father’s Day Traditions
Feeling inspired yet? If you still haven’t decided on your inaugural Father’s Day tradition, here’s some of our favorite suggestions.
Write Him a Letter
Articulating big emotions isn’t always easy, and cornering dads for a passionate heart-to-heart isn’t ideal either. Rather than fumbling over your words in person, why not put pen to paper and write him an (annual) letter? Relate your favorite memories from the past year, or toast his parenting skills. A hand-delivered envelope and Father’s Day card in good ol’ longhand could speak volumes!
Cook a Meal Together
Eating together is a simple pleasure many of us will one day realize we took for granted. To immortalize that experience, try cooking and prepping the meal itself with your dad or other father figure. Jointly source ingredients with a trip to the store; slice and dice those vegetables in tandem; encourage Dad to dispense his best grill-and-griddle advice at the Father’s Day cookout. Just make sure you savor every moment (and mouthful) together!
Host a Game Night
Game nights are a time-honored tradition in most households, and can become one in yours, too, this Father’s Day. Gather the family – and copious amounts of junk food – for a slate of your dad’s favorite card, video, or tabletop games, à la “Game On! Turning a Bored Night into a Board Night.” Dad-branded decks and tailor-made beer glasses will heighten the atmosphere, although tense negotiations over ownership of Monopoly’s Boardwalk may do the job just as well.
Work on a Project
This doesn’t mean overwhelming your dad with corporate-speak, touching base to ask if he has the bandwidth for a new deliverable. We mean collaborating on something other than a spreadsheet for a rewarding Father’s Day activity – from piecing together a jigsaw or LEGO fortress to undertaking a DIY or gardening project. Stockpile equipment and brainstorm ideas in the preceding weeks, and seize the (Father’s) day on the Sunday in question!
Hold a Movie Marathon
From To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) to Finding Nemo (2003), the history of cinema is full of inspiring father figures. Because of that, a movie marathon with your dad seems entirely appropriate, allowing you a way to connect, unwind, and load up on buttery smooth popcorn. Decide on each year’s theme or genre in advance – comedy, action, thriller – or debate some classics from “The Greatest TV Shows & Movies to Watch with Dad.”
Take a Yearly Photo
Now that everyone carries a high-resolution camera with them at all times, we take more photos than ever. However, we rarely do so intentionally – our best images are consigned to an SD card, and our index finger is usually poised over the ‘Delete’ button. From this year on, capture some new memories with a purposeful Father’s Day pic – perhaps in the same pose or setting each year – and preserve the results in picture frames or plaques.
Go on an Outdoor Adventure
Not all of our ideas will keep you and your father figure cooped up inside; feel free to swap the cook-offs and scale models for outdoor excursions instead. So, if your dad sees himself as an intrepid explorer of the wilderness, then a bright and balmy June day is the perfect opportunity to indulge those interests. Plot a route through a nearby woodland, head for the closest mountain on a hike, or use a weekend-long camping trip as a way to reconnect and detox. Anything to “Make the Most of Summer“!
Attend a Sporting Event
Although one-sided scoreboards can revive old rivalries, going to see a sporting event typically brings a family together. Planning ahead can help secure the best seats, and whether it’s football, baseball, or even a round of golf, the shared experience will mean valuable bonding time. And, if all else fails, cheering for your favorite team or athlete on a big-screen TV – or even bemoaning bad calls – is another way to build camaraderie.
Fill a Memory Box
This is another sentimental suggestion for those who want to celebrate their father but need a conversation piece to do it! Prepare a keepsake box and, unbeknownst to your dad, add mementos to it from the past year – there may even be a few inspired by this list. Then, on Father’s Day, present him with that year’s curated collection and enjoy reminiscing over his favorite anecdotes.
Create a Handmade Gift
If your belief in Father’s Day gift etiquette won’t let you pass up the chance to give the man a present, then at least make it something homemade. We doubt you exhausted all of your creative potential writing that aforementioned letter, right? Knit him a jumper or quilt, make him a dessert or pot of jam, crochet a hat or gloves – you could even paint or draw a picture. There’s a reason elementary school teachers send kids running home on Father’s Day waving their latest creation: it’s a tried-and-tested tradition.
If a fresh wave of creativity hasn’t quite landed yet, then take a look at our “20 Father’s Day Activities for Every Type of Dad.” Or, if you want to bundle your keepsake box or letter with a heartfelt card, here are some ready-to-adapt quotes and messages for you to try: “What to Write in a Father’s Day Card.” Let us know in the comments below how you plan to spend the day!
Eoin is a Content Specialist at Zazzle in Cork. He’s recently bought a house with his fiancée, and thus most of his time these days is spent trying to keep the walls from caving in and the wolves from the door. Still, he’s always open to book, game, and movie recommendations, so if you have some, let him know: he’ll add them to a very, very long list.
