Today, Sunday 8 June, it's Father's Day in Belgium. Except, of course, for those living in Antwerp.
As with most things in this country, even annual celebrations are not straightforward. People celebrate Father's Day at different times, depending on where they live. The majority of Belgians will celebrate this Sunday, but in the Flemish city of Antwerp residents have already honoured their dads this year – on 19 March. Why is this the case?
The first day to honour fathers was recorded in the United States on 5 July 1908. It was a one-off commemoration held in a West Virginia church to pay tribute to hundreds of men who died in a coal mine explosion, and it was not an annual holiday.
However, the following year, a woman called Sonora Smart Dodd from Arkansas proposed establishing an equivalent to Mother's Day for male parents. She and her five siblings had been raised by their single father after their mother died in childbirth.
Smart Dodd worked with local churches, the YMCA, shopkeepers and government officials, and eventually Washington State celebrated the country's first statewide Father's Day on 19 June 1910.
Later, in 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring that the third Sunday of June 1966 to be recognized as Father’s Day. It would take six more years before President Richard Nixon established Father’s Day as a permanent national holiday to be observed on the third Sunday of June every year.
Around the world
Nowadays, Father's Day traditions vary across the world. While the US, Canada, UK, India, Mexico, South Africa, France and others celebrate the day on the third Sunday of June each year, in Thailand, people honour their fathers on 5 December – the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is considered the Father of the Nation – and it is traditional to wear yellow.
In Mexico City, there is a 13 mile race called Carrera Día del Padre, in which children and their dads run together, while in Germany fathers often go off for hiking trips in groups instead of spending time with their children. In Nepal, children often give sweets as presents and their fathers give them blessings in return.
Closer to home, traditions also differ. Belgium is almost unique in the world in that it celebrates on the second Sunday of June rather than the third (as does Austria). And what makes it even more unique is that Antwerp chooses to have its day on the Feast of Saint Joseph on 19 March, setting the city apart from other Belgian provinces. Antwerp also has a different Mother's Day to the rest of Belgium: 15 August – the Assumption of Mary – rather than the second Sunday of May.
What can you do with your dad today?
If you're in need of some last-minute plans to celebrate with your dad today, look no further!
Start the day with a hearty brunch at La Fabrique en Ville. With eggs cooked all ways, granola, French toast, cake and more on its menu, and sat in the stunning surroundings of Parc d'Egmont, you'll leave with a full stomach and smile on your face.
To stretch your legs, why not check out the monthly Brussels Makers Market at Gare Maritime? There will be talented independent designers and distinctive handcrafted creations for every taste on offer. Similarly, if your dad likes digging around for hidden treasures, the Uccle Flea Market is the place to be this weekend.
We also recommend taking your dad to the mini golf course in Parc Josaphat to spend some time in nature, and a guaranteed afternoon of fun for all the family.
Josaphat mini golf. Credit: Erik Hürsever Sánchez / Google photos
Finally, it wouldn't be Father's Day in Belgium without taking the opportunity to sample some of the country's best beers.
We recommend Brussels Beer Project's (BBP) guided tour and tasting experiences. By transforming unsold bread into tasty beer, BBP has managed to become a leader in the craft beer market. In keeping with the brand's spirit of sharing, the Dansaert taproom, just a stone's throw from the Canal, invites you to discover the behind-the-scenes of its brewery and taste six beers.
