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Father's Day in United Kingdom
Father's Day is observed on the third Sunday of June in the UK, honoring fathers and father figures. (UK Mother's Day — Mothering Sunday — is a separate, movable date tied to the Christian calendar, not the same rule as Father's Day.)
History
Father's Day traces back to Sonora Smart Dodd, who proposed a day honoring fathers in Spokane, Washington in 1909-1910, inspired by the newly established Mother's Day. It spread gradually and unevenly as a local and regional observance for decades before President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation in 1966; it became a permanent national observance in 1972 when President Nixon signed it into law.
How it's celebrated
It's marked with cards, gifts, and family gatherings. It is not a public holiday in the UK — workplaces, schools, and banks operate as usual.
See the full list of public holidays in United Kingdom for 2027, browse an interactive calendar, or check holidays for any country with the holidays tool.
Frequently asked questions
Is Father's Day a bank holiday in the UK?
No — it is an observance, not a bank holiday. Banks, schools, and most workplaces operate as usual.
Is UK Father's Day the same date as Mother's Day?
No — UK Mother's Day (Mothering Sunday) falls in March, tied to the Christian calendar, while Father's Day is fixed to the third Sunday of June.