Collection: Creative gift ideas for Father's Day 2026

The historical background of Father's Day

The idea of a special day honouring fathers emerged in the early 20th century in the United States, inspired by the establishment of Mother's Day. The first known Father's Day celebration took place in 1910 in Spokane, Washington, initiated by Sonora Smart Dodd, who wanted to honour her father, a Civil War veteran and single parent of six children. Although Dodd's efforts initially met with resistance, the day was eventually adopted thanks to her tireless campaigning and the support of local churches and business people. Father's Day was not officially recognised as a national holiday in the United States until 1972, during the presidency of Richard Nixon.

Father's Day dates across Europe

Europe has no common Father's Day. Italy and Portugal celebrate on 19 March, the feast of Saint Joseph. France and the Netherlands mark it on the third Sunday in June, Belgium on the second Sunday, Poland on 23 June and Denmark on 5 June. Germany ties it to Ascension Day, which moves with Easter, while Sweden and Finland wait until the second Sunday in November. Luxembourg celebrates on the first Sunday in October.

Why the dates differ so much

The dates reflect where the custom came from. Countries with a strong Catholic tradition attached the day to Saint Joseph, the archetypal father figure, and kept his feast day in March. Others took the American June date that followed on from Mother's Day. The Nordic countries deliberately moved theirs to November, partly so that the two family celebrations would not fall within weeks of each other. Germany is the outlier, having grown its Father's Day out of older Ascension Day processions.

What this means for gifts

If your family lives across several countries, it is worth checking the local date before ordering — a gift that arrives three months late loses some of its charm. What does not change is what makes a good present: something personal that is clearly meant for him and nobody else. A mug with his own saying on it, an apron for the grill, a text only the two of you understand.

Choosing a Father's Day gift

The best Father's Day gifts are rarely the most expensive ones. They are the ones that show you paid attention: a running joke turned into a print, a nickname the grandchildren gave him, the date of something that mattered. Printed mugs and aprons work particularly well for this, because they are used daily and stay in sight rather than disappearing into a drawer.