Father’s Day will take place next week (16) and while it doesn’t always receive the same attention as Mother’s Day, it does present the perfect opportunity to consider unique and meaningful ways to honour our fathers.
Instead of resorting to the usual gifts such as ties, cufflinks, or cologne, why not think outside the box this year by finding creative and memorable ways to show our appreciation for the fathers in our lives? After all, simply purchasing a gift or taking your father out for a meal might not fully capture the essence of Father’s Day. Celebrating fatherhood goes beyond material offerings; it’s about acknowledging and appreciating the dedication and sacrifices fathers make to improve our lives.
Honouring the most special men in our lives
This Father’s Day, The Sunday Morning Brunch delved a bit deeper into how Sri Lankans are honouring their fathers, reaching out to ask how they were choosing to make their fathers feel special on this day.
Here’s a glimpse at what we found:
Parents should be celebrated every day
Sathya Ramanayake shared that she viewed days such as Father’s Day and Mother’s Day as purely commercial and part of a consumerist system. She said that she preferred to appreciate her father in a different way, explaining: “I think there is no real reason to have a specific day to celebrate our fathers or our parents in general. What is necessary is that we keep them in our hearts every day, look after their well-being, and pay attention to their needs and wants consistently.
“There is so much to be done to repay them for their work and dedication, and it simply cannot be confined to one day. I don’t think that is how things should be. We should truly honour them every day; that is simply how I feel.”
She added that she took efforts to appreciate her parents as often as possible, noting that while it was lovely to celebrate them on birthdays and on international days of recognition, it was also important to do so every day to one’s capacity.
A day to make someone feel special
Sharing her perspective, Thakshila Sewwandi, while agreeing that celebrating fathers should be a daily practice, expressed her appreciation of having a designated day for it. “I think it is nice that we have a day dedicated to them to celebrate. It’s a good excuse for us to splurge and go all out to show that we care. We definitely do try to express it on a daily basis, but sometimes it is nice to have a specific day, like birthdays,” she said.
“It’s nice to have the opportunity to show them how much we care, whether it’s through a gift or an experience. Regardless of the gesture, what matters is that we take the day to celebrate them fully. Fathers often feel that they remain behind-the-scenes, and although by no means do I mean that mothers don’t deserve the spotlight they receive, given societal norms, fathers also deserve to be appreciated.”
Fathers have inner children too
Malshika Warnapura highlighted the importance of spoiling fathers, noting that they deserved to receive special treatment, just like everyone else in the family, especially mothers. She remarked: “I think fathers, as men, have a difficult role in society where they have to appear strong and unwavering. This often means they can’t express themselves fully and enjoy things like a child does. Days such as Father’s Day allow that inner child to shine and we have a responsibility to let our fathers embrace that joy of being celebrated.”
She shared her approach to celebrating Father’s Day: “I like to buy my father things he can enjoy and use. He loves finer things but doesn’t often indulge because he feels it’s not a necessity. So I like to get him some of those things which I can afford. Additionally, I want to focus on his well-being, such as arranging a full-body check-up. Father’s Day is an opportunity to prioritise their health, as they often take it lightly.”
A day for spoiling
In exploring these diverse perspectives on celebrating Father’s Day in unique and thoughtful ways, we recognise the importance of genuine appreciation for fathers as an everyday practice, alongside the opportunity to indulge and show extra care on this designated day. There is a shared acknowledgment of the societal pressure on fathers to appear strong, coupled with a call for prioritising their emotional well-being.
Malshika’s suggestion of thoughtful gestures such as indulging their interests and prioritising their health with gifts such as full-body check-ups underscores the shift towards celebrating fathers beyond traditional gifts, emphasising emotional connection and holistic care. Together, these perspectives highlight the evolving nature of Father’s Day celebrations and the deeper significance of honouring fathers in meaningful and out-of-the-box ways.
Taking the consumerism route
While Mother’s Day often sees grand celebrations, Father’s Day can sometimes feel like an afterthought. While it is true that women are often viewed as better targets for marketing, this does not mean that fathers have to miss out. If you’re considering taking your father out for a special meal, Brunch has rounded up several enticing options for you to consider.
Father’s Day High Tea Buffet
Venue: Cinnamon Grand
Date: 16 June
Time: 3 p.m.-6 p.m.
Price: Rs. 4,500 nett per person
Contact: +94 76 560 4972
Father’s Day High Tea Buffet
Venue: Hotel Royal Ramesses
Date: 16 June
Time: 3 p.m.-5.30 p.m.
Price: Rs. 2,950 nett per person
Contact: 0114 369 331
Father’s Day at Cinnamon Red
Date: 16 June
Time: 7 p.m.-10.30 p.m.
Price: Rs. 6,000 nett per person
Contact: +94 71 214 5145
This is by no means an exhaustive list. Check out what’s out there and what works best for you and your father.