Father's Day Trivia: 25 Fun Questions and Answers
Father's Day has a history full of surprising facts most people never learn — from its slow sixty-year path to becoming an official holiday to the strange traditions other countries use to honor dads. Vietgifts, trusted since 2001, put together 25 trivia questions covering history, world traditions, famous fathers, and fun facts about the holiday. See how many you can answer before checking the answer underneath each question.
Browse our Father's Day flower collection while you're at it — the trivia is fun, but the gift is what your father will actually remember.
Father’s Day Flower
Round 1: History and Origins
Questions 1–8
1. Who is credited with creating Father's Day?
Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, who proposed the idea in 1910 to honor her own father.
2. Why did Sonora Smart Dodd want to create Father's Day?
Her father, William Jackson Smart, was a Civil War veteran who raised six children alone after his wife died in childbirth. She felt his sacrifice deserved recognition.
3. When was the first Father's Day celebrated?
June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington.
4. Which U.S. President first issued a proclamation recognizing Father's Day?
President Lyndon B. Johnson, in 1966.
5. Which U.S. President made Father's Day a permanent national holiday?
President Richard Nixon, in 1972.
6. Which holiday inspired the creation of Father's Day?
Mother's Day, which had already gained recognition by the time Sonora Smart Dodd proposed Father's Day.
7. How many years passed between the first Father's Day celebration and it becoming an official national holiday?
62 years — from 1910 to 1972.
8. What was a common criticism of Father's Day in its early decades?
Many people dismissed it as unnecessary or overly commercial, which slowed its path to official recognition.
Round 2: World Traditions
Questions 9–16
9. Which two countries celebrate Father's Day on the first Sunday of September?
Australia and New Zealand.
10. What Catholic holiday is associated with honoring fathers in Italy and Spain?
The Feast of Saint Joseph, celebrated on March 19.
11. What is the unusual German Father's Day transport tradition called?
Vatertag, where men pull wooden wagons loaded with food and drinks through forest trails or city streets.
12. What religious holiday does German Vatertag fall on?
Ascension Day, 39 days after Easter, which means the date shifts every year.
13. Which country celebrates Father's Day in December, tied to a King's birthday?
Thailand, where Father's Day falls on December 5.
14. What color do people traditionally wear in Thailand on Father's Day?
Yellow.
15. In which country is Father's Day called "Dia dos Pais," celebrated with family barbecues?
Brazil, on the third Sunday of August.
16. What date is Father's Day observed in most countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and India?
The third Sunday of June.
Round 3: Famous Fathers and Facts
Questions 17–25
17. Which two father-son pairs have both served as President of the United States?
John Adams and John Quincy Adams; George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.
18. What jazz standard did Horace Silver compose for his father in 1965?
"Song for My Father," inspired by his father, John Tavares Silva.
19. What flower is traditionally worn on Father's Day if your father is no longer living?
A red rose if living; a white rose if he has passed.
20. Approximately how many fathers are there in the United States?
Between 72 and 75 million, including biological, adoptive, and stepfathers.
21. What was the National Retail Federation's projected Father's Day spending for 2026?
Approximately $24 billion, up from $22.4 billion the previous year.
22. In the 1920s and 1930s, what single holiday did some advocate to replace both Mother's Day and Father's Day?
Parent's Day.
23. What historical event helped Father's Day gain wider commercial support in the United States?
The Great Depression, when struggling retailers began promoting Father's Day more heavily to boost sales.
24. Which fictional children's book character was created by A.A. Milne as a gift to his son?
Winnie-the-Pooh, named after a teddy bear given to his son, Christopher Robin.
25. What is the most popular gift category given to fathers worldwide on Father's Day?
Flowers and personalized gifts remain among the most popular choices, alongside practical items like tools, clothing, and tech gadgets.
How Did You Do?
Turning Trivia Into a Real Celebration
Whether you knew all 25 answers or learned something new about Father's Day along the way, the holiday's history is really a story about one daughter's gratitude toward her father — a feeling that has since spread to millions of families worldwide. For overseas Vietnamese families, that same gratitude can be expressed through fresh flowers, potted orchids, or a thoughtful gift delivered straight to your father's door in Vietnam. Browse our potted orchid collection for a gift that lasts months after Father's Day.
Father's Day Potted Orchid
Frequently Asked Questions
Who really started Father's Day?
Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington proposed the holiday in 1910 to honor her father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran who raised six children alone.
What date is Father's Day celebrated around the world?
Most countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and India, celebrate on the third Sunday of June. Australia and New Zealand celebrate in September, Germany on Ascension Day, and Italy and Spain on March 19.
How much do families spend on Father's Day each year?
According to National Retail Federation projections, Father's Day spending in 2026 was expected to reach approximately $24 billion in the United States alone.
Is Father's Day a public holiday?
In most countries, including the United States, Father's Day is not a federal public holiday. Schools and most businesses operate normally, and the day is observed privately within families.
Can I send a Father's Day gift to my father in Vietnam after learning all this trivia?
Yes — Vietgifts delivers fresh flowers, potted orchids, premium gift sets, and more directly to your father's door across Vietnam, with same-day delivery and secure USD payment from anywhere in the world. Trusted since 2001.