Father’s Day: Recipes and Traditions

Father holding baby as mother looks on
Image by Celia Gorman

For centuries, March 19th has been set aside by European Catholics as a special day for fathers. That day marks the Feast of St. Joseph, the man who raised Jesus with Mary, and the patron saint of fathers. Father’s Day is still observed on that day in some countries with a Catholic tradition.

In the United States, Father’s Day was established early in the 20th century as a counterpart celebration to Mother’s Day, and set to occur on the third Sunday in June. That date is now by far the most common internationally for the day to celebrate dads everywhere.

Usually a little more low key than Mother’s Day, Father’s Day is often celebrated with immediate or extended family gathering together for an informal celebration. Children will often give their father a simple gift, such as a homemade card, or something more elaborate, like tools, shaving equipment, electronics or grilling utensils.

Because Father’s Day falls in early summer in the United States — and because outdoor cooking was traditionally viewed as man’s work — a tradition of backyard barbecues and grilling on a sunny Sunday was inevitable. Hot dogs and hamburgers are very often the star items on the menu.

Father’s Day Recipes

Try these recipes for your Father’s Day celebration.

Pancakes 
(American skillet cakes)

Memphis Barbecue Ribs 
(American Southern-Soul slow-cooked pork ribs)

Texas Barbecue Beef Brisket 
(American Tex-Mex smoked, slow-roasted beef)

Sweet Coleslaw 
((American cabbage salad)

Hamburgers 
(American grilled beef patty sandwiches)

Michelada 
(Mexican spicy beer cocktail)

Peach Cobbler 
(American peaches baked with pastry)

Sausage Gravy 
(American white sauce with sausage)

Sonoran Hot Dogs 
(Mexican, American Southwestern beef frankfurter sandwich)

North Carolina Pulled Pork Recipe 
(American Southern barbecue pork sandwich)

Cowboy Beans 
(American Tex-Mex beans with ground beef)

Carne Asada 
(Central American grilled steak)

Potato Salad 
(American potatoes with mayonnaise)

Carpetbag Steak 
(Australian, New Zealander oyster-stuffed steak)

Hangtown Fry 
(American oyster and bacon omelet)

Hawaiian Kalbi Ribs 
(Hawaiian-American barbecued beef short ribs)

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