As everyone knows Father’s Day is almost here. On Father’s Day many people make a special effort for their fathers or father figures. For some people this means a visit to their fathers. While for most others it means getting their Dads a gift such as gift cards, clothing or sporting equipment, or even luxury food items. Father’s Day is a relatively modern holiday, so traditions can vary widely between different families.
Father’s Day was first celebrated in the city of Spokane, Washington on the third Sunday in June 1909. The first celebrations of this holiday can be credited to Sonora Smart Dodd, the youngest daughter of a single father. Since then it was widely celebrated throughout the rest of the United States of America, and was given permanent legal status as a holiday by the U.S. government in 1972. Since that time, it has become a popular holiday for family members to come together.
Many countries and cultures all around the world have embraced this original American holiday celebrating the important role of fathers. In China, prior to the establishment of the People’s Republic, Father’s Day was celebrated on August 8. The reason behind this choice was due to the fact that the “八 (bā) eighth” day of the “八 (bā) eighth” month makes two “八八 (bābā) eights,” which sounds similar to the colloquial word for “爸爸 (bàba) daddy.” While it is still celebrated on this date in a few areas of China, Father’s day is widely recognized on the same date as many other countries, the third Sunday of June.
So, an easy way to express your gratitude for your father on this day would be to say “Happy Father’s Day.” But if we want to say this phrase in Chinese we would instead say, “父亲节快乐！ (Fùqīnjié kuàilè!) Happy Father’s Day!” “父亲 (fùqīn)” is another way to say father and the word “快乐 (kuàilè)” means happy. So in Chinese we would switch the phrase around to “Father’s Day Happy!” Here are some more phrases you can use to let your Dad know you care:
Examples:
Bàba, nín xīnkǔ le!
爸爸，您 辛苦 了！
Dad, thanks for your hard work!
Bàba, wǒ ài nín!
爸爸，我 爱 您!
Dad, I love you!
Lastly, we would like to provide you with a few Father’s Day cards for you to give to your “爸爸 (bàba) father.” 父亲节快乐！(Fùqīnjié kuàilè!) Happy Father’s Day!
Quiz:
1. Originally, Father’s Day in China was celebrated on what day?
A. August 10th
B. July 16th
C. August 8th
D. July 2nd
