Father's Day (Taiwan)
Next: August 8, 2027
Eight, eight: say 'ba-ba'.
The story
Where it comes from
Most of the world keeps Father's Day on the third Sunday of June, an American custom. Taiwan keeps its own on 8 August. In August 1945, as the long war in China neared its end, ten Shanghai figures, among them the Peking opera star Mei Lanfang, proposed the date to honour fathers, including the many lost in the war. In 1946 civic leaders petitioned the government, which made 8 August Father's Day nationwide, and Taiwan has kept the date ever since.
How it's celebrated
It is a family day rather than a holiday. Grown children try to go home to spend time with their fathers, take them out for a meal or bring a gift, and restaurants and shops plan special menus and offers for the week. Those who cannot get home at least call. Schools and community groups hold small events of their own, and many people simply say bàba xīnkǔ le, 'Dad, thank you for all your hard work'.
Did you know
- Said aloud in Mandarin, 8/8 is bā bā, which sounds like bàba, 'dad', so the day is also nicknamed Bābā jié.
- Written one above the other, two characters for eight (八) look like the character for father (父).
- Taiwan's law on commemoration days lists Father's Day among its festivals without a day off, alongside Grandparents' Day on the fourth Sunday of August.
The greeting
Happy Father's Day · 父親節快樂
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