Father’s Day to be officially celebrated in Ukraine

Father’s Day in Ukraine will be celebrated on the third Sunday of June annually.

On May 8, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine  endorsed a draft presidential decree on marking Father’s Day in Ukraine, according to which Father’s Day will be celebrated on the third Sunday of June.

According to the government’s portal, the implementation of the decree will contribute to the establishment of favorable conditions for the comprehensive development of the family as the basis of society and increase the status of the husband as a parent in the process of raising children.

The idea of a special day to honor fathers and celebrate fatherhood was introduced from the United States. There, a woman called Sonora Smart Dodd was inspired by the American Mother’s Day celebrations to plan a day to honor fathers. She wanted to express her respect for her dad and all the caring fathers of America involved in raising children. Father Dodd was named William Smart, his wife died giving birth to a sixth child. William was a veteran of the civil war and lived with the children on the farm.

In 1966, American President Lyndon Johnson declared the third Sunday of June National Father’s Day. According to tradition, during annual celebrations, the state and ordinary citizens provide support to low-income fathers who are raising children alone.

On the third Sunday of June, Father’s Day is celebrated in South Africa, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Cuba, France, Haiti, Hong Kong, Mauritius, India, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Slovakia , Switzerland, Turkey, Venezuela.

In addition to Father’s Day, International Men’s Day is celebrated in many countries on
November 19 for men and boys who are not fathers.