Father’s Day: Honoring Fathers or Upholding Pagan Customs?

Every June, families across the world gather to celebrate Father’s Day—a day dedicated to honoring and appreciating fathers and father figures. Children give cards, gifts, and often spend time with their dads to show love and gratitude. While it may seem harmless, few people pause to ask: Where did this holiday come from? Is it Biblical? Or is it another man-made tradition with questionable origins?

Let’s unpack the history of Father’s Day, its roots in paganism and secularism, and how it measures against the standard of Scripture.

The Secular Invention of Father’s Day

Unlike Mother’s Day, which traces its roots to ancient goddess worship and maternal fertility cults, Father’s Day is a relatively modern invention. The official observance began in the United States in the early 20th century, promoted heavily by commercial interests.

The first Father’s Day celebration is credited to Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, who wanted to honor her father, a Civil War veteran and single parent. After gaining support from local churches and government officials, the first Father’s Day was celebrated in 1910. But it wasn’t until 1972 that it became a permanent national holiday under President Nixon.

Seems innocent enough, right? But there's more beneath the surface.

The Pagan and Roman Roots of Father Worship

Although the modern form of Father’s Day may have American origins, the practice of honoring fathers and male ancestors dates back to pagan cultures, particularly in Rome and Babylon.

• In Ancient Rome, paterfamilias—the male head of the household—was revered not only as the family leader but also as a semi-divine authority. Romans would hold festivals and rituals to honor male ancestors, often involving offerings, feasts, and prayers to family spirits.

• In Babylon, records from around 4,000 years ago show that sons would write special messages to their fathers, praising them—often linked to the worship of male deities like Marduk, who was seen as a "father god."

• These practices evolved into ancestor worship in many cultures, where deceased male ancestors were venerated and consulted through ritual and mediumship.

So while the modern Father’s Day may not involve overt idol worship, the concept is not rooted in Scripture—and its earliest cultural parallels point directly to paganism and human exaltation.

Is Father’s Day in the Bible?

The Bible absolutely affirms honoring fathers and mothers—in fact, it's one of the Ten Commandments:

"Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land..." – Exodus 20:12

However, there is no Biblical precedent for setting aside a specific day to honor human fathers annually, let alone following the patterns of nations that worshiped their fathers or ancestors.

God warns His people repeatedly not to adopt the customs and traditions of other nations, no matter how meaningful or harmless they may appear on the surface.

What the Bible Says About Pagan and Man-Made Traditions

Here are just a few Scriptures that caution against participating in foreign customs or inventing religious observances not commanded by YHWH:

• Deuteronomy 12:29–31 – "Take heed...that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise."

• Jeremiah 10:2 – "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen..."

• Mark 7:7-8 – "Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

• Colossians 2:8 – "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men..."

These verses make it clear: Just because something feels good or is socially accepted doesn’t mean it's pleasing to God.

A Set-Apart People Should Be… Set Apart

As believers, we are called to be set apart (holy) from the world:

“Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord...” – 2 Corinthians 6:17

Even if we love and appreciate our fathers—as we should—we must avoid mingling that honor with pagan-influenced, man-made holidays that God did not establish. Scripture commands us to follow His ways, not blend into worldly systems that do not glorify Him.

Conclusion: Rethinking Father’s Day

On the surface, Father’s Day appears to be a noble celebration. But when we dig deeper, its historical, cultural, and spiritual roots reveal a tradition born from secular motives and shaped by ancient pagan practices. As followers of the Most High, we are instructed not to follow man-made traditions or mimic the customs of nations that serve other gods.

You can honor your father every day through obedience, respect, and Biblical love—not just one day chosen by the world.

So next Father’s Day, instead of following a custom never commanded by God, consider asking:Does this truly honor the Most High—or just man?