Bing Father’s Day Quiz – Test Your Dad Trivia Knowledge
Who started Father’s Day, why some countries celebrate in March, and which animal dads do the heavy lifting? Twelve questions, one coffee mug to fill, and a dad who is always ready with a tip.
By Sayanara SmithUpdated October 3, 202612 questions · hints available10 min read
Every June, millions of families hand over a card, fire up the grill or sit through Dad’s favorite movie one more time. Father’s Day feels like a timeless tradition, yet it is younger than many people think, and its path to becoming an official holiday was surprisingly bumpy. It began with one daughter in Washington State who wanted to thank the man who raised her and her five brothers on his own.
This Bing Father’s Day Quiz covers the holiday’s history, how it is celebrated around the world, the animal kingdom’s most devoted dads and a few famous “fathers” of science and history. Stuck on a question? Ask Dad for a tip, though it will cost you half the points. After the quiz, scroll on for the full story, a world calendar of Father’s Day dates, and some simple ways to celebrate.
Please note: this is an independent educational quiz. It is not created by, affiliated with or endorsed by Microsoft or Bing.
The quiz
Take the Bing Father’s Day Quiz
Each correct answer earns 100 points and fills Dad’s mug a little higher. Use “Ask Dad for a tip” to cross out a wrong answer and get a nudge, but a correct answer after a tip is worth 50 points.
Family album
The Story of Father’s Day, From One Church to a National Holiday
Mother’s Day gained national recognition in the United States in 1914, but fathers had to wait much longer. Many people at the time saw a day for dads as sentimental or simply commercial, and it took six decades of campaigning, retail promotion and presidential nudges before Father’s Day became permanent.
1908
A day of remembrance
After the Monongah mining disaster of December 1907, Grace Golden Clayton organized a service honoring fathers in Fairmont, West Virginia, on July 5, 1908. It was not repeated as an annual event.
1909
A sermon sparks an idea
Listening to a Mother’s Day sermon in Spokane, Sonora Smart Dodd thought of her father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran who raised six children after his wife died.
1910
The first Father’s Day
Backed by local ministers and the YMCA, Spokane held its first Father’s Day on June 19, 1910. Churchgoers wore roses to honor their fathers.
1916
A presidential nod
President Woodrow Wilson publicly honored the idea, but Congress resisted making it official, partly over fears it would become too commercial.
1924
States encouraged
President Calvin Coolidge recommended that states observe the day, though he stopped short of a national proclamation.
1930s
Retailers join in
During the Great Depression, menswear sellers and other businesses promoted the day heavily, which helped it spread but also fueled the “commercial holiday” criticism.
1966
A first proclamation
President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers on the third Sunday in June.
1972
Made permanent
President Richard Nixon signed the law making Father’s Day a permanent national observance. Sonora Smart Dodd lived to see it, passing away in 1978.
World calendar
When Is Father’s Day Around the World?
The third Sunday in June is the most widely used date, but plenty of countries mark the day according to their own religious calendars, seasons or history. These dates make excellent quiz material.
Most common
Third Sunday of June
United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, the Philippines, Japan, Mexico and many more.
St. Joseph’s Day
March 19
Spain, Italy and Portugal, where Saint Joseph is honored as a model father.
Southern spring
First Sunday of September
Australia and New Zealand, where June falls in winter.
A holy day
Ascension Day
Germany, where Vatertag falls on the Thursday 40 days after Easter.
A play on words
August 8
Taiwan. “Eight-eight,” ba ba in Mandarin, sounds like the word for “dad.”
Royal birthday
December 5
Thailand, on the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Nordic autumn
Second Sunday of November
Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia and Iceland.
Winter in the south
Second Sunday of August
Brazil, where families celebrate Dia dos Pais with lunches and gifts.
Both parents
May 8
South Korea celebrates Parents’ Day, honoring mothers and fathers together.
Nature’s best dads
The Animal Kingdom’s Super Dads
In most animal species, mothers do the bulk of the parenting. These fathers are remarkable exceptions, and they show up in nature quizzes again and again.
Male pregnancy
Seahorses
The female deposits her eggs into a pouch on the male’s belly. He fertilizes and carries them, then gives birth to fully formed young, sometimes hundreds at a time.
About 2 months on the egg
Emperor penguins
Through the Antarctic winter, fathers balance a single egg on their feet under a warm fold of skin while mothers feed at sea. Including courtship, they can go around four months without eating.
Solo incubation
Emus
After the female lays her eggs, the male sits on them for about eight weeks, barely eating or drinking, and then raises the striped chicks.
A living nursery
Darwin’s frogs
These small South American frogs have fathers that take tadpoles into their vocal sacs and keep them there until they emerge as tiny froglets.
Eggs on his back
Giant water bugs
In some species, the female lays her eggs on the male’s back. He carries them for weeks, keeping them aerated and safe until they hatch.
Full-time carrier
Marmosets
In these small monkeys, fathers and other family members do much of the carrying of infants, often handing them to the mother only for feeding.
Hall of fame
Famous “Fathers of” History and Science
Trivia writers love a good “father of” question. These honorary titles are traditional rather than official, but they are widely used.
Father of HistoryHerodotusGreek writer of the 5th century BCE, author of the Histories
Father of MedicineHippocratesGreek physician linked to the Hippocratic Oath
Father of GeometryEuclidWrote the Elements in Alexandria
Father of GeneticsGregor MendelStudied inheritance using pea plants
Father of the ComputerCharles BabbageDesigned the Analytical Engine in the 1830s
Father of the ConstitutionJames MadisonKey architect of the U.S. Constitution
Father of EconomicsAdam SmithAuthor of The Wealth of Nations (1776)
Father of Modern ScienceGalileo GalileiPioneer of telescopic astronomy and experiment
Groan-worthy
A Few Dad Jokes, and Better Ways to Celebrate
No Father’s Day article is complete without a few puns. These originals are ready to be told at the dinner table, ideally with a pause for effect.
What did the necktie say to the hat?
“You go on ahead. I’ll just hang around.”
Why did the seahorse dad look so tired?
He’d been expecting for weeks.
Why did Dad bring a ladder to quiz night?
He heard the questions were on another level.
How was Dad’s grilling lesson?
Honestly, it was a bit rare.
Thoughtful ways to celebrate (no tie required)
Write a real letterA handwritten note about a favorite memory often means more than anything from a store.
Record his storiesAsk about his childhood, first job or how he met your mom, and save the answers as a family history.
Cook his favorite mealRecreate a dish from his childhood, or let him teach you his signature recipe.
Play a quiz togetherTake this quiz side by side and see who knows more. Bragging rights are included.
Plant somethingA tree or garden bed planted together grows into a living reminder of the day.
Honor father figures tooGrandfathers, stepdads, uncles, coaches and mentors deserve a thank-you as well.
Still in a quiz mood? Try Today's Pop Culture Quiz for a fresh round of movie, music and celebrity questions, or see how well you have followed the news with our Top Headlines Quiz.
It is a free, 12-question educational quiz about the history of Father’s Day, how it is celebrated around the world, animal fathers and famous “fathers of” history. Each answer includes an explanation. It is independent and not affiliated with Microsoft or Bing.
When is Father’s Day in 2027?
In the United States and the many countries that use the third Sunday in June, Father’s Day 2027 falls on Sunday, June 20.
Who founded Father’s Day?
Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, is credited with founding the modern holiday. Inspired by her father, a widowed Civil War veteran who raised six children, she organized the first celebration on June 19, 1910.
When did Father’s Day become an official U.S. holiday?
President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first proclamation in 1966, and President Richard Nixon signed it into law as a permanent national observance in 1972.
Why do some countries celebrate Father’s Day on March 19?
March 19 is the feast of Saint Joseph, who is honored as the husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus. Countries with strong Catholic traditions, such as Spain, Italy and Portugal, celebrate fathers on this day.
What is the traditional flower of Father’s Day?
The rose. A long-standing custom suggests wearing a red rose to honor a living father and a white rose to remember a father who has died.
Sayanara focuses on the “why” behind the news and writes clear, well-sourced explainers. She developed careful verification habits while editing cultural essays, tracing claims back to primary sources. She’s exploring future study in philosophy (UC Berkeley is on her shortlist; no current affiliation). Her work is original, transparently cited, and updated with corrections when needed. Off the page, she coaches a local debate team and plays jazz piano.
Last reviewed October 3, 2026. Spotted an error? Let us know and we will correct it. Holiday dates in some countries can change; check local calendars for the current year.
