'Nobody knows why'Why is Father's Day in Luxembourg celebrated on the first Sunday in October?

For many little Luxembourgers this Sunday, 6 October, is a day like no other. Some children have been diligently preparing drawings, songs, homemade crafts, or special gifts made at school, while others may have already purchased thoughtful presents.

Families come together to share heartfelt meals or offer warm hugs – gestures that often hold more meaning than material gifts. For some, however, Father’s Day serves as a poignant reminder, a time to reflect on fathers who are no longer with them.

In Luxembourg, every first Sunday in October is celebrated as “Pappendag,” or Father’s Day in Luxembourgish. This tradition has been in place since the 1960s, but why does Luxembourg observe Father’s Day on this particular date?

“It’s completely Luxembourgish”

It’s certainly an interesting question and according to France Bleu no one really knows: “This is not the case anywhere else, it’s completely Luxembourgish and nobody in this country can explain why,” France Bleu said in amusement.

He continued: “Luxembourg truly is the only country in the world which has chosen to celebrate Father’s Day on the first Sunday of October.”

If any readers can shed any light onto the origins of Father’s Day in Luxembourg, our colleagues at RTL Infos would love to hear from you via email at rtlinfos@rtl.lu.

Our neighbours in any case all chose different dates to celebrate Father’s Day:

• In France, as is the case in many countries, Father’s Day takes place on the 3rd Sunday of June;
• In Germany, families celebrate Father’s Day the Thursday of Ascension Day in May;
• In Belgium, Father’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of June.

Like many holidays in Europe, Father’s Day has Christian roots dating back to the Middle Ages, traditionally celebrated on 19 March, which is St. Joseph’s Day – Joseph being the husband of Mary and the patron saint of fathers and workers. To this day, Many countries, including Italy, Spain, and Portugal, still celebrate Father’s Day on this date.

Win a pair of AirPods with RTL !

To mark the occasion this year, RTL Today is running a Father’s Day competition this Sunday where participants can win a pair of AirPods. You can test your knowledge with a Father’s Day quiz by clicking here.

As a final thought, we leave you with an inspiring quote on fathers: “Fathers must always give in order to be happy. Always giving is what makes one a father,” said the renowned French novelist Honoré de Balzac.

Happy Father’s Day to all fathers in Luxembourg and all those who celebrate!