Fathers are extremely important people, benefiting both their own children and society as a whole when they choose to act in this honorable role. On Fathers Day, Brazilians seek to honor and show appreciation for the fathers or father-figures in their lives, as much of the world does once a year.
In this article, we’ll go over the basics of how Brazil celebrates Father’s Day, including the most popular gifts and traditions. At PortuguesePod101.com, we hope to make this learning journey worthwhile, and hope you take away something valuable!
Happy Fathers Day!
1. What is Father’s Day?
You’re likely familiar with the concept of Father’s Day, as it’s celebrated in just about every country. Father’s Day is a holiday for children and whole families to celebrate and honor fathers, usually through Father’s Day gifts.
This may be the only day of the year that many fathers are acknowledged and truly shown appreciation for their role in the family, and in society, making this holiday an important aspect of Brazilian culture. Even the best dads need a little motivation sometimes!
2. When is Fathers Day in Brazil?
The Fathers Day date in Brazil is the second Sunday in August each year.
The date was set by the well-known journalist Roberto Marinho, who wanted to boost his business and consequently his newspaper sales. They say the date was chosen by his advertising consultant, Sylvio Bhering, because August 14 was the feast day of St. Joachim, the patron saint of his family. Roberto Marinho’s plan worked, and the date has since proved very “profitable” (rentável) for stores.
For your convenience, we’ve put together a list of this holiday’s date for the next ten years.
- 2019: August 11
- 2020: August 9
- 2021: August 8
- 2022: August 14
- 2023: August 13
- 2024: August 11
- 2025: August 10
- 2026: August 9
- 2027: August 8
- 2028: August 13
3. Reading Practice: Fathers Day Celebrations in Brazil
Do you know how Brazilians celebrate Father’s Day, and what gifts are most common? Read the Portuguese text below to find out, and find the English translation directly below it.
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Nesse dia, a maioria dos filhos compra um presente para o seu pai, escrevem cartas ou cartões de agradecimento e planejam um dia diferente e especial. A maioria dos filhos procuram um presente do gosto do pai. Entre os presentes mais comuns estão roupas ou perfumes.
Nas escolas, as crianças normalmente preparam um presente na sexta-feira e levam para casa para presentear seus papais. Algumas escolas também organizam recitais e apresentações especialmente para os papais.
E, no domingo, prepara-se um almoço especial, e se aproveita o dia entre a família para passear ou fazer o que o pai quiser. Afinal, esse dia todos querem agradar o seu pai!
É muito comum no Brasil filhos com o sobrenome “Junior,” “Filho” e netos que se chamam “Neto,” para honrar o nome do seus progenitores, como João da Silva Filho ou Pedro Soares Oliveira Junior ou José da Costa Machado Neto.
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On this day, most children buy a gift for their father, write letters or cards of thanks, and plan to spend the day in a unique and special way. Most children hunt for a present their father will like. Among the most common choices of gifts are clothes or men’s cologne.
In school, the kids usually prepare a gift on the preceding Friday and take it home to give to their dad. Some schools also put on special concerts and shows for the fathers.
Then, on Sunday, a special lunch is prepared, and the father can take advantage of the day with his family for an outing or whatever other activity he chooses. After all, on that day everyone wants to please dad.
It is very common in Brazil for sons to have “Junior” or “Son” (or grandsons) to have “Grandson” added to their names as a mark of respect for their father’s name. For example, João da Silva Filho with Filho meaning “the son,” or Pedro Soares Oliveira Junior or José da Costa Machado Neto with Neto meaning “the grandson.”
4. Three Generations
Do you know any sayings that mention the three generations—father, son, and grandson?
“Dad is rich, son is noble, grandson is poor.” This saying relates to the difficulty of maintaining inheritance, wealth, and success through many generations.
5. Vocabulary You Should Know for Father’s Day in Brazil
Here’s some vocabulary you need to know for Father’s Day in Brazil!
- Domingo — “Sunday”
- Pai — “Father”
- Filho — “Son”
- Filha — “Daughter”
- Presente — “Present”
- Jantar — “Dinner”
- Amar — “Love”
- Dia dos Pais — “Father’s Day”
- Celebrar — “Celebrate”
- Vale-presente — “Gift certificate”
- Cartão de dia dos pais — “Father’s Day greeting card”
To hear the pronunciation of each Portuguese Father’s Day vocabulary word, check out our relevant vocabulary list!
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed learning about Father’s Day in Brazil with us! How do you celebrate Father’s Day? Let us know in the comments!
To continue learning about the Portuguese language and Brazilian culture, visit us at PortuguesePod101.com, and explore our variety of practical learning tools. Read more insightful blog posts like this one, study free Portuguese vocabulary lists, and download our mobile apps designed to help you learn Portuguese no matter where you are! By upgrading to Premium Plus, you can also take advantage of our MyTeacher program and learn Portuguese with a more one-on-one approach and personalized plan.
Whatever your reasons for being drawn to the Portuguese language, know that with enough hard work and determination, you can master the language! And PortuguesePod101 will be here with you to help.
Feliz dia dos pais! (This means “Happy Father’s Day!” in Brazilian Portuguese.)
