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Germany

Celebrating Father's Day in Germany

On the 40th day after Easter - Ascension Day in the Christian world - Germany also marks Father's Day. It has been celebrated as such in the German-speaking world for more than a century.

  • A group of young men on bicycles with beer bottles in their hands, near Schmöckwitz - Photo: Tim Brakemeier (dpa)

    Father's Day outing

    While Christians celebrate Ascension Day, a lot of men in Germany get together for a Father's Day outing. Sometimes they meet to go hiking - or, as here - for a bike ride. Wives and children stay home, while the men make sure they have enough to drink for the journey - enough alcohol, that is. Despite this being a cliché, it's still pretty common.

  • Men on a FAthers Day outing with two handcarts. Photo: Frank May (dpa)

    Handcart time

    A typical outing on Father's Day in Germany, with the typical accoutrements: A handcart filled with food and drink. After all, for an all-day outing, you're going to need sustenance!

  • These men are underway in red and white one-piece bathing suits with beers in hand in Hamburg - Photo: Carsten Rehder (dpa)

    Dressed for the occasion

    While some dress appropriately for going out, or practically for the weather, others - like these gentlemen - have just stripped off their clothes to parade around in old-fashioned bathing suits. No matter - on their special day, men are allowed to do whatever they want.

  • Actor Dieter Borsche with his sons in the 1940s - Photo: Keystone

    Changing roles

    Father's Day has been around for more than 100 years. Although the rituals haven't changed much, the role of dads has. Half a century ago, fathers were often aloof authority figures for their children. Seldom were they as close with their children as in this picture from the 1940s of actor Dieter Borsche playing with his sons.

  • A man washing the dirty laundry as his son looks on. Photo: dpa

    Modern fathers

    Today, men in Germany are more involved with the family than they were a generation ago. They help with household chores these days, which takes some of the pressure off partners and mothers, who often have jobs outside of the home. In a few instances, the roles have even been swapped and the women work, while men stay home, cooking and caring for the children.

  • Rainbow family: the Zöllers with daughter Lucy, Thomas Welter, son Julius, and Ingmar Zöller - Photo: private

    New family concept

    In 2004, Germany changed its adoption laws, extending certain adoption rights to same-sex couples. Since then, the classic concept of mother-father-child family has been expanded to a family with two fathers - or two mothers.

  • Three young men in Hamburg - Photo: Daniel Bockwoldt (dpa)

    Once a year

    Regardless if a father is "new," or gay; single, or a traditional husband and provider: Father's Day is for all dads to celebrate.


  • A group of young men on bicycles with beer bottles in their hands, near Schmöckwitz - Photo: Tim Brakemeier (dpa)

    Father's Day outing

    While Christians celebrate Ascension Day, a lot of men in Germany get together for a Father's Day outing. Sometimes they meet to go hiking - or, as here - for a bike ride. Wives and children stay home, while the men make sure they have enough to drink for the journey - enough alcohol, that is. Despite this being a cliché, it's still pretty common.

  • Men on a FAthers Day outing with two handcarts. Photo: Frank May (dpa)

    Handcart time

    A typical outing on Father's Day in Germany, with the typical accoutrements: A handcart filled with food and drink. After all, for an all-day outing, you're going to need sustenance!

  • These men are underway in red and white one-piece bathing suits with beers in hand in Hamburg - Photo: Carsten Rehder (dpa)

    Dressed for the occasion

    While some dress appropriately for going out, or practically for the weather, others - like these gentlemen - have just stripped off their clothes to parade around in old-fashioned bathing suits. No matter - on their special day, men are allowed to do whatever they want.

  • Actor Dieter Borsche with his sons in the 1940s - Photo: Keystone

    Changing roles

    Father's Day has been around for more than 100 years. Although the rituals haven't changed much, the role of dads has. Half a century ago, fathers were often aloof authority figures for their children. Seldom were they as close with their children as in this picture from the 1940s of actor Dieter Borsche playing with his sons.

  • A man washing the dirty laundry as his son looks on. Photo: dpa

    Modern fathers

    Today, men in Germany are more involved with the family than they were a generation ago. They help with household chores these days, which takes some of the pressure off partners and mothers, who often have jobs outside of the home. In a few instances, the roles have even been swapped and the women work, while men stay home, cooking and caring for the children.

  • Rainbow family: the Zöllers with daughter Lucy, Thomas Welter, son Julius, and Ingmar Zöller - Photo: private

    New family concept

    In 2004, Germany changed its adoption laws, extending certain adoption rights to same-sex couples. Since then, the classic concept of mother-father-child family has been expanded to a family with two fathers - or two mothers.

  • Three young men in Hamburg - Photo: Daniel Bockwoldt (dpa)

    Once a year

    Regardless if a father is "new," or gay; single, or a traditional husband and provider: Father's Day is for all dads to celebrate.


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