Father’s Day in Russia Date in the current year: October 20, 2024

The first country to celebrate a secular Father’s Day was the United States. The holiday was founded by Sonora Smart Dodd; the first celebration was held on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. Over the years, Father’s Day became a nationwide celebration and was adopted by other countries. However, Russia wasn’t one of them.

For a long time, there was no nationwide Father’s Day in Russia, while Mother’s Day has been celebrated in the country since 1998. However, some regions organized their own Father’s Day celebrations. For example, Moscow and Saint Petersburg celebrated Father’s Day on the third Sunday of June, Father’s Day in Altai Krai was celebrated on the last Sunday of April, and the city of Volgograd held its Father’s Day celebrations on November 1.

The situation changed in 2021, when Vladimir Putin signed a decree officially establishing Father’s Day. The Ministry of Labor suggested the establishment of the holiday in June 2021, citing “increasing the social significance of fatherhood in strengthening the institution of the family and raising children” as the main goal of Father’s Day.

The idea of celebrating Father’s Day in Russia was first voiced back in 2008, which was declared the Year of the Family in Russia. However, it was soon forgotten. Nine years later, the Russian Public Opinion Research Center conducted a study that showed that 62% of Russians supported the creation of an official Father’s Day.

That same year, the Council of Fathers was created within the Office of Children’s Ombudsman. The main goals of the Council were the formation of an all-Russian movement of fathers and the development of the institution of mentoring to help solve complex issues related to the well-being of children and families. The Council implements projects aimed at strengthening the role of fathers in families and society, protecting family values, and bringing families closer together.

On the eve of the 2021 International Day for Protection of Children, Children’s Ombudsman Anna Kuznetsova met with Vladimir Putin to present him with an annual report on children’s rights protection. During the meeting, Kuznetsova, among other things, mentioned the achievements of the council of fathers and spoke about Father’s Day celebrations in various regions.

In July, Kuznetsova proposed the annual celebration of Father’s Day to emphasize the role of men in raising children and to promote a balanced approach to family protection. Her proposal was supported by the Ministry of Labor, which brought it up for public discussion. President Vladimir Putin publicly supported the initiative in August and signed the corresponding decree on October 4, 2021. The first nationwide celebration of Father’s Day in Russia took place on October 17, 2021.