Classic · March 19 and June
Flowers for Father’s Day (and when it is in your country)
Flowers weren’t the typical Father’s Day gift, but the “men deserve flowers too” idea is changing that. What to give and the exact date in each country.
- Spain and Portugal
- March 19Saint Joseph’s Day
- Mexico and most of the Americas
- 3rd Sunday of Junesame as the US
- Uruguay
- 2nd Sunday of July
- Favorite flowers
- Sunflowers and blue tonesor a plant
When Father’s Day is in each country
Father’s Day has two big families of dates: the Catholic one of Saint Joseph, on March 19, and the American one on the third Sunday of June. These are the two in the Florario calendar, with the exact date this year and next:
| Date | What is celebrated and why | Flower | Color | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| every year | Father’s Day It falls on Saint Joseph’s Day, the father of Jesus in Christian tradition. Flowers are not the most typical gift, but more and more people give sunflowers or a plant that lasts: a present that doesn’t wilt in a week. | Sunflowers or a plant | Yellow | Spain, Portugal, Italy, Bolivia and Honduras |
| 3rd Sunday of June | Father’s Day The US date, which spread to almost all of Latin America. Flowers for dad are gaining ground thanks to the “men deserve flowers too” trend: sunflowers, blue tones or a plant for the office. | Sunflowers, blue flowers or a plant | Blue | Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, USA and more |
| Country | Date |
|---|---|
| Spain, Portugal, Italy, Bolivia, Honduras | March 19 (Saint Joseph’s Day) |
| Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, USA, UK, France | Third Sunday of June |
| Paraguay | Second Sunday of June |
| Guatemala and El Salvador | June 17 |
| Nicaragua | June 23 |
| Uruguay | Second Sunday of July |
| Dominican Republic | Last Sunday of July |
| Brazil | Second Sunday of August |
Do people give flowers to fathers?
Traditionally, not much. For decades flowers were reserved for mothers, girlfriends and women’s occasions, and fathers got a tie, cologne or tools. That is changing fast. On social media the idea that “men deserve flowers too” has caught on, the same idea behind the blue flowers of Boyfriend Day and Men’s Day, and florists see more Father’s Day orders every year.
The key is choosing well: sturdy-looking flowers, understated or bright colors and, if possible, something that lasts.
Which flowers to give dad
- Sunflowers: joy, loyalty and admiration. It is the most chosen flower, and by March 19 greenhouse sunflowers are already available.
- Blue flowers: hydrangeas, delphinium, iris or blue thistles. They convey calm and trust.
- Green and white bouquets: eucalyptus, ruscus, white lisianthus. Elegant and not overdone.
- Wheat and dried flowers: a dried bouquet lasts months on a shelf or in the office.
- A plant: a small olive tree, a bonsai, a cactus or some kitchen herbs. For many dads, the most practical option and the one they love most.
Ideas for each type of dad
- The cook: a trio of pots of rosemary, basil and thyme.
- The gardener: a rosebush, a dwarf lemon tree or bulbs to plant together.
- The office dad: a succulent or a snake plant, which survive anything.
- The nostalgic one: his mother’s favorite flower or the flower of his hometown, with a note explaining why.
- The soccer fan: a bouquet in his team’s colors. It works better than you’d think.
Tips
Add a handwritten note to the flowers: it’s what people remember most. If he gets embarrassed receiving a bouquet in public, give it to him at home. And if your father is no longer with you, a flower in his memory, at home or at the cemetery, is also a way of marking the day; there are ideas in the sympathy flowers guide.
Remind me 3 days before
Download the reminder and open it with your phone’s calendar: it repeats every year and alerts you three days before, so you have time to order the bouquet.
Frequently asked questions
When is Father’s Day in Spain?
On March 19, Saint Joseph’s Day. The same goes for Portugal, Italy, Bolivia and Honduras.
When is Father’s Day in Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Peru?
On the third Sunday of June, as in the US. In Guatemala and El Salvador it is June 17 and in Uruguay the second Sunday of July.
Can you give flowers to a father?
Yes. It is more and more common, especially since the “men deserve flowers too” trend. Sunflowers, bouquets in blue tones and plants are the most popular choices.
Which flowers should you give on Father’s Day?
Sunflowers for admiration and joy, blue flowers like hydrangeas or delphinium for loyalty, or a hardy plant such as a small olive tree, a bonsai or a succulent.
What should I give if my dad doesn’t like flowers?
An aromatic herb for the kitchen (rosemary, basil), a small tree for the garden or a bunch of dried wheat and eucalyptus, which lasts for months.
