Most of the world celebrates Father's Day today except for Indonesia - Why not?

Bali News and Views Editor's Comments:

First of all a very Happy Father's Day to all my fellow fathers throughout the world.

Now I am going to take this opportunity to complain on behalf of all the fathers in Indonesia, the fourth largest country in the world. 

In Indonesia, Father's Day is celebrated on November 12 and is not a public holiday. 

Why do we have to wait until Nov 12th. 

After living here for 21 years I have never heard anybody celebrating this very unknown holiday .

In this day of women demanding equal, everything we demand to celebrate the same time as the rest of the world's dads

Somebody tell me why us fathers  don't get the same respect as mothers on this special day worldwide?

Mothers are certainly given their own day on Dec 22nd. In fact in Indonesia they have two days Mother's Day and another day called Kartini day.

The thought that comes to mind is the old saying by comedian  Rodney  Dangerfield "we don't get any respect".

"we don't get any respect".

I think we should start lobbying for us Indonesian Fathers to celebrate on June 17th as well.

We want to be pampered by our family, especially our wives, from the moment we get up in the morning the way most Fathers around the world are today.

Don't forget the presents and even flowers.

A meal in the evening with our family at our our personal favorite restaurants wouldn't be out of the way either. Caring wives may want to follow that up with a little Armour in a sexy lingerie. 

Lawrence with Family 2018

All you fellow fathers in Indonesia who agree with me please share. Demand our rights we want to Father's Day on June 12th with the rest of the dad's in the world . LOL

After all even when we are given presents we are the ones that usually pay for them. LOL.

And while many of our wives are lounging around in beauty salons and shopping at the newest, latest malls in Bali were trying to figure out how to pay for them. LOL

Wives, if you want to surprise the daddy of your family today wish him a Happy Fathers Day today and show him that you care. The above in done in jest .

Please Share:

INDONESIA: WHY INDONESIANS DON’T CELEBRATE FATHER’S DAY

An Indonesian father with child

Would you believe me if I tell you I have NEVER heard of Father’s Day until I moved to America in 2005.

Yes, true story!

Here in Indonesia we just simply don’t have Father’s Day.

We do have Mother’s Day on December 22, 2014. The holiday is celebrated on the anniversary of the opening day of the first Indonesian Women Congress, which was held from 22 to 25 December 1928. The Congress was attended by 30 feminist organizations from 12 cities in Java and Sumatra. In Indonesia, feminist organizations have existed since 1912, inspired by Indonesian heroines of the 19th century, e.g., Kartini, Martha Christina Tiahahu, Cut Nyak Meutia, Maria Walanda Maramis, Dewi Sartika, Nyai Ahmad Dahlan, Rasuna Said, etc. The Congress intended to improve women’s rights in education and marriage.

We also have Kartini Day on 21 April to celebrate the emancipation of women spearheaded by an activist, Raden Ajeng Kartini.

So why do we have no Father’s Day then?

Could it be because we as a country are already too patriarchy?

I actually wonder about that too. So like a good citizen, I turned to Google and did a little research.

What do you know, actually we do have one and it’s called “Hari Ayah” in Indonesian which means Father’s Day. It was declared in 2006 it falls on 12 November. That explains why very few people are aware of this and it’s not popular. Maybe because we don’t commercialize it as much as mother’s day? I have never seen an advertisement for local Father’s Day.


Technically, men still perceived to have higher place than women in Indonesia. Like it or not, that’s the truth. We are still plagued by social injustices caused by a male-dominated society that abandons women to the whims of their husbands. So maybe that’s why it is more ‘common’ to celebrate Mother’s Day.

Being from a whole intact family unit of a father and a mother doesn’t guarantee that the father is always hands-on, and I think this happens in many different countries, too. I have personally seen mentally checked out fathers who leave all the responsibilities of raising children solely to their wives by justifying they are too busy making a living for the family. Many men still believe their fatherhood role is simply to provide for the family and that’s it. I feel for women who literally are acting as single parents in a married-life.

Being a mother myself, I can truly appreciate a man who helps out his wife. I celebrate hands-on fathers, like my own father. My father is a strong dominant male figure to me and many people will be surprised by how hands-on he has been. I can still recall him changing my brothers’ diapers, doing the dishes (something he still does to this very day!) and other domestic chores without complaining, going to the market for my mother and many more. He was even actively involved in our schools’ boards. He works hard, yet, he was and is always there.

And now seeing my own younger brother being very hands-on in caring, raising his first daughter truly warms my heart. My sister-in-laws’ friends pointed out that their own husbands do not even want to change diapers, but my brother changes diapers and more.


This made me realize how lucky we are to have our father as a big role model who set great living standards of what a great father is like.

So although Father’s Day is not hugely popular here, I salute all men who break the stereotype of fatherhood in my country. Hats off to you!

When do you celebrate Father’s Day in your country? How do you celebrate Father’s Day?

This is an original post by our World Mom, Maureen of “Scoops of Joy” in Indonesia for World Moms Blog.

Photo Credit: http://www.stockvault.net/photo/152311/asian-child-with-father


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