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FATHER'S Day is upon us - and it's all about celebrating your dad and showing him just how much you care.

Here some great last-minute gifts for your dad - and why the date falls differently depending where you are.

 In the UK, Father’s Day always takes place on the third Sunday of June
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In the UK, Father’s Day always takes place on the third Sunday of JuneCredit: Getty Images

When is Father’s Day 2019 and why do we celebrate it?

Each year in the UK Father’s Day takes place on the third Sunday of June.

This year, it falls on June 16.

According to one tale, Father's Day first began because of a woman named Grace Golden Clayton from Fairmount, West Virginia.

Orphan Grace lobbied her local Methodist ministers for a church service to honour fathers in 1908.

The story goes that she was inspired to do this after a mining disaster killed 362 local men.

Their deaths orphaned more than 1,000 children and Grace wanted to pay tribute to the children’s dead fathers - as well as her own.

Another story involves the daughter of a civil war veteran, Sonora Smart Dodd, from Arkansas.

While listening to a sermon for Mother’s Day, Sonora became convinced of the need to celebrate dads too.

She then campaigned to her religious leaders for a special service dedicated to fathers.

In 1966, President Johnson designated that the third Sunday in June should be Father's Day.

Six years later, Father’s Day was made a permanent national holiday in the US when, in 1972, President Richard Nixon signed it into law.

Great gifts to celebrate your dad this year

Socks

  • 5 pack of socks with food design, £8 from Boohoo -
 Socks are the safest of safe bets for Father's Day, but these from Boohoo have snazzy designs
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Socks are the safest of safe bets for Father's Day, but these from Boohoo have snazzy designs

A classic, and a little on the safe side, but these funky designs from Boohoo can brighten up a threadbare sock draw.

They're currently priced at £8.

Watch

  • Lacoste 12.12 Watch, £75 from WatchShop -
 This Lacoste watch features water resistance of up to 50 metres
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This Lacoste watch features water resistance of up to 50 metresCredit: WatchShop

A timeless piece makes a great Father's Day present and with this Lacoste design you can't go wrong.

This watch is a great gift for a dad who likes sports, because it is water resistant in up to 50 metres meaning that it would be suitable for fishing and swimming.


Check out these 27 great presents you can give your dad


Booze

  • Ultimate Fridge Filler gift set, £25 from Beerhawk - 
 This Ultimate Fridge Filler beer set covers all the bases
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This Ultimate Fridge Filler beer set covers all the bases

The same as whisky, it can pay to find out what sort of drink your dad likes before snapping up this one.

But if you're looking to cast your net wide on your dad's drinking tastes, this fridge-filling gift set is a good option.

Microfibre Slippers

  • Premium Microfibre Full Slippers, £10 from Matalan - 

 Who can say no to a decent pair of slippers, like these from Matalan?
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Who can say no to a decent pair of slippers, like these from Matalan?

Reminder, this one only works if you didn’t buy these already for Christmas.

Your dad might not think he's ready to be shuffling around in slippers quite yet, but that's only because no one's bought him the right pair!

Why is the date of Father’s Day different in other countries?

While countries including the UK, Ireland, US, France, Cyprus, South Africa, Netherlands, Greece, Japan, Canada and Saudi Arabia celebrate Father’s Day every June, others have the day on a completely different date.

Instead, Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand celebrate their dads in September.

Many people believe that the celebration date is different in the southern hemisphere because June is their autumn, rather than their spring, and the day can be marketed better in the spring season.

And in Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and Croatia it’s in March.

For Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Iceland, Father’s Day celebrations are held on the second Sunday of November - and in Bulgaria it’s on the same day as Boxing Day, December 26.

The dates usually correspond to each country’s culture and traditions.

While there may be many different dates dedicated to dads across the globe, one thing is for certain, they all celebrate the same thing – fantastic fathers.

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