Swiss Father's Day - for new-dads and «other» fathers

Swiss Father's Day - for new-dads and «other» fathers

Father's Day was introduced in the German- and French-speaking parts of Switzerland in 2007. As in other countries, it is a day of honor for fathers, but not only.
Father's Day in Switzerland - not only the date is different
Swiss Father's Day was introduced by the umbrella organization of Swiss men's and fathers' organizations (männer.ch). In contrast to other countries, however, the date was set for the first Sunday in June.

The founders also wanted not only to show appreciation for fathers, but also to spark a discussion about the needs of fathers and their role. Because decades ago, the father was usually the «absent earner» and the head of the family. Things are different today.
New-dads - caring and yet masculine
According to a study by the Sotomo research institute, the family model with the man as the main earner dominates in this country. But part-time work has also arrived among men. According to the study, men and women agreed that the ideal workload for fathers of school-age children is 80 percent. This means that fathers today are also willing to cut back on their careers to give more importance to their relationship with their child.

These are the so-called «new-dads» who see themselves as competent fathers and want to build a relationship with their child that is as close as that of the mothers.
For new-dads, baby care and housework can be learned
Nowadays, hardly any father would say that he avoids changing diapers. This is because most fathers now acknowledge their educational role and want to be more involved, especially during the care-intensive toddler years. Modern fathers help out around the house and spend as much free time as they can with their families and children.

With so much equality, dads are entitled to Father's Day. In German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland, it takes place on the first Sunday in June, while in Ticino it has long been celebrated on March 19. But here and there, the aim is to show our fathers how much we love them.

Learn more about Father's Day