Around the world, we celebrate mothers, children, and families in all kinds of ways. But what about dads?
Fathers have a day of their own, too. In 2026, Father's Day in Latvia falls on September 13. Although the holiday does not have as long a history as many other family celebrations, over the past several years it has become a familiar part of the calendar.
For many of us, Dad is one of our first friends and the person who, through a child's eyes, seems capable of just about anything. Some dads taught us how to walk, ride a bike, or at least how to fall off one properly. Some held our hands through our first difficulties and kept helping long after we had grown up. And some were never shy about loudly commenting on their children's occasionally questionable life choices.
Dads come in all kinds - strict, perhaps a little too kind, talkative, or, on the contrary, rather reserved. Some rarely talk about their feelings but will always show up, help, worry about you, and somehow manage to be there exactly when you need them.
Father's Day is a good opportunity to remember all those little things and simply say thank you. Or sometimes just to meet up, talk, and listen to stories from the past. After all, dads, just like moms, are not born knowing exactly how to be parents. So most families probably have at least a couple of stories about something going completely off script - or about Dad's plan turning out to be surprisingly different from Mom's.
When Is Father's Day Celebrated in Latvia?
In Latvia, Father's Day, or Tēva diena, is celebrated every year on the second Sunday of September. In 2026, it falls on September 13.
The date became part of Latvia's official calendar relatively recently. Father's Day has been officially observed in the country since 2010. It is not only an opportunity to congratulate dads, but also a reminder of how important a father's role can be in a child's life and in the family as a whole.
Over time, Father's Day has gradually stopped feeling like something new or unusual. Children make cards and small gifts at schools and preschools, cities organize family events, and for many families, the second Sunday in September has simply become another good reason to spend the day together.
And perhaps that is exactly when the holiday feels most natural.
How Father's Day Began
The modern story of Father's Day began in the United States in the early 20th century. One of the key figures behind the holiday was Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington.
Her father, William Jackson Smart, raised six children on his own after his wife died. Sonora believed that fathers deserved a day of recognition alongside the already emerging Mother's Day tradition. As a result, one of the earliest Father's Day celebrations took place in Spokane in June 1910.
The journey from a local initiative to a nationwide holiday, however, was a long one. It was not until 1972 that the third Sunday in June was officially established as an annual Father's Day in the United States.
Over time, the tradition spread far beyond the U.S., although no single worldwide date was ever adopted. Many countries celebrate fathers in June, while Latvia chose the second Sunday in September.
Father's Day in Latvia
Father's Day is still a relatively young family holiday in Latvia, but it has gradually become more visible.
In recent years, more attention has been given to how actively fathers take part in their children's everyday lives - not only during major milestones, but in all the ordinary little things as well. Walks, meals, homework, school runs, bedtime routines, and hundreds of other small daily responsibilities are all part of parenting. Latvia's Ministry of Welfare has also noted the growing involvement of fathers in childcare and raising children.
Perhaps that is why Father's Day itself is becoming less formal, too. It is no longer so much about feeling obliged to buy a present as it is about taking a moment to appreciate someone whose presence in our lives can easily be taken for granted.
How to Celebrate Father's Day
You do not need to plan anything grand to make Dad happy on Father's Day.
You can make breakfast together, head out of town, have a family lunch, go for a walk, or rewatch a movie you once loved watching together. If your dad is into fishing, cars, sports, technology, or something completely different, Father's Day can also be a good excuse to step into his world for a little while and join him in something he enjoys.
And sometimes the best option is even simpler - just call him.
Especially when children have grown up and moved into homes of their own, and the occasional "How are you?" squeezed between work and everyday responsibilities has gradually replaced the long conversations you once had.
A gift does not have to be expensive either. A child's drawing, a framed photograph, his favorite sweets, a book, or a small item chosen specifically with him in mind can often mean much more than yet another generic gift set.
What matters most is the simple message behind it: "I thought of you."
A Holiday That Is Not Just for Young Children
Sometimes Father's Day can feel like a holiday mainly meant for families with small children - complete with colorful paper cards, drawings, and slightly crooked letters spelling out "For Dad."
But age does not really change much.
You can be an adult with a job, a home, and a family of your own and still be someone's child. Your relationship with your parents simply changes over time.
When you are little, Dad may seem like the person who knows the answer to absolutely everything. Then comes the age when you want to argue with practically every piece of advice he gives you. For some people, that urge to argue may never disappear completely. And then, a little later, you suddenly notice that you are the one calling him to ask how to fix a leaking faucet, choose a car, make that one familiar dish, or figure out some completely grown-up problem.
And that is exactly why Father's Day comes with no age limit.
What Matters Most Is Time Together
Everyone has a different relationship with their father and a different collection of family stories. They are not always perfect, and dads themselves come in all kinds. Some talk a lot, while others show love through what they do. One may spend hours telling stories from his younger years, while another might respond to a heartfelt "I love you" with his usual, "All right, all right - just make sure you dress warmly," or "What's all this fuss about?"
But underneath all those differences, there is often the same thing - care.
On September 13, you can give your dad something nice, cook his favorite dinner, or plan a small family celebration. Or you can simply spend a few hours together, without a special schedule or any elaborate plans.
And it is entirely possible that years from now, an ordinary September day like that will turn out to be one of those memories that, for some reason, still feel especially warm.