Just like the figure of a mother, that of a father is so important in the family nucleus, especially for the children. Traditionally, dad is the protector, the benefactor and although the roles have evolved over the years, the love remains the same. In fact, parents even have their own day, to receive tributes, gifts and all possible displays of affection. No father is perfect, but those who really want to be, are assured of the unconditionality of their loved ones, every March 19, every day of the year. March, 19? Yes, around the world, the third Sunday in June is not the only date considered to celebrate Father’s Day. In the following paragraphs I will tell you where and why.
WHY IS FATHER’S DAY CELEBRATED ON MARCH 19 AND IN WHICH COUNTRIES?
Father’s Day is celebrated on March 19 in Spain. Because? To answer this question I must go back in time, to the year 1948, when Manuela Vicente Ferrero, a teacher known by the literary pseudonym “Nely”, decided to celebrate the parents of her students. At that time, Manuela was a teacher in Dehesa de la Villa, an area located northwest of Madrid.
According to his own testimony, it all started when two parents approached him to tell him that just as mothers were celebrated, they would also like to have a similar day.
In a interview he gave in 1996 to RTVE, the teacher remembered the following words that resonated very deeply with her: “You know how mothers love, but you don’t know how fathers love their children. Parents have hearts.”
After listening to them, he looked at them and promised something: “I told them: ‘Look, I didn’t invent Mother’s Day, but rest assured, I’m going to invent Father’s Day.’” This is how she celebrated the first day in honor of her students’ parents with a mass, presentation of gifts made by the schoolgirls, and a festival that included poetry, dance, and theater.
Little boy wanting to surprise his father on his day (Photo: Freepik)
WHY WAS MARCH 19 CHOSEN TO CELEBRATE FATHER’S DAY?
Because teacher Manuela Vicente Ferrero was a very believer, she chose March 19 as the date to celebrate Father’s Day, since it coincided with the day of Saint Joseph, the putative father of Jesus of Nazareth and husband of Mary.
As his idea of paying tribute to parents was a success, he spread this initiative the following year in “El Correo de Zamora” and “Magisterio Español”, publications where he worked. Likewise, he had as his propagandist the then managing director of Galerías Preciados, José Fernández Rodríguez, who in 1953 propagated the idea with a campaign in the press and radio. He was joined by Ramón Areces, managing director of “El Corte Inglés”.
IN WHICH OTHER COUNTRIES IS FATHER’S DAY CELEBRATED ON MARCH 19?
In addition to Spain, there are other countries where Father’s Day is celebrated. These are: Andorra, Belgium, Bolivia, Croatia, Honduras, Italy, Liechtenstein, Morocco, Mozambique, Portugal and Switzerland.