Father’s Day in Kenya – All you need to know
If there is one holiday that has been neglected and under-celebrated here in Kenya, it’s Father’s Day.
When compared to other holidays such as Christmas or Mother’s Day, Father’s Day feels more of an afterthought than a serious holiday.
While many of you are guilty of just being forgetful, there are numerous other reasons why Father’s Day is not well recognized in Kenya.
Advertisers and brands typically don’t hype this
holiday the same way they do others. Men also don’t put much emphasis on receiving gifts as compared to women.
These two factors when combined tend to result in lower sales for businesses on this holiday.
Thankfully, this trend has been changing over the past years. In this guide, we’ll go over all you need to know about Father’s Day here in Kenya. We’ll also give you some gift suggestions that you can use for the next Father’s Day celebrations.
Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June every year. The day was first celebrated on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. Its founding is credited to Sonora Smart Dodd, the daughter of the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart.
Mr. Smart raised Sonora and her five siblings as a single parent following the death of their mother during childbirth. Sonora was inspired by a sermon she heard on Mother’s Day and approached her pastor with the idea of having a similar day for men.
The holiday struggled in its first few decades. It gained popularity through the support of trade groups and promotion by Sonora.
While it was initially recognized as a religious holiday, Father’s Day has now evolved into an international holiday where men and other male figures are celebrated by family, friends and colleagues.
Here in Kenya, the holiday has largely been ignored in the past. These days, however, the holiday has caught on here in the 254. It’s not uncommon to see churches mark the day with dedicated sermons. Families also hold parties and give out gifts to the men in their lives.
Let’s go over some gift ideas that you can use as inspiration for the next Father’s Day celebration.
