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Make his Father's Day extra special this year.
By Emily Ratay — Written on Jun 11, 2018
Trying to decide what to do for your dad on Father’s Day can be really difficult – especially if your dad always tells you he doesn’t care or doesn’t want to do anything.
But just because he says it doesn’t matter doesn’t mean he still wouldn’t appreciate you doing something nice for him anyway. Father’s Day isn’t like a birthday or another gift-giving holiday; there are a lot more things you can do for your dad on his special day besides giving his presents. Don’t get me wrong, giving gifts is a great way to supplement his special day, but it shouldn’t be the only thing you do for your dad.
This is your father; the man who you look up to and love. Whether you’re celebrating Father’s Day with your biological father, stepfather, father figure, father-in-law, adoptive father – whatever – this is the day to celebrate the man in your life that you really care about.
Of course, every dad is different. So how do you know what to do for your dad on Father's Day, especially when he’s the kind of guy to tell you to surprise him or not worry about it? Even if he does tell you exactly what he wants to do for his special day (like my dad), it doesn’t feel so great to know that there’s isn’t at least some element of surprise, either.
Well, thanks to astrology, you can figure out where to start when figuring out what to do for your dad on Father’s Day this year. Each dad has his own zodiac sign and, with the help of that horoscope, you can plan the perfect Father’s Day for your dad.
Some dads are more traditional and just want to spend the day with his family. Other dads want to go all out on his special day and do something fun and different, like take a day trip somewhere or go out for a lavish dinner.
Even if you know your father like the back of your own hand, it’s still nice to know that there are things you can do for him (and with him) on Father’s Day that mixes it up a bit – no dad wants to do the same thing every year, right?! I like to think I know my own dad pretty well, but unfortunately, that doesn’t help me one bit when I try to plan something for Father’s Day.
My dad is the kind of person who says things like, “Oh, I don’t care what we do,” or “Whatever you want!” whenever I ask him about Father’s Day. He’s also known for returning any gifts that are too expensive or not very practical – but he’s also an impossible person to shop for in general.
It’s very confusing and difficult to plan the perfect Father’s Day for my dad… and I’ll probably still be freaking out about it right up until that Sunday. But I know I’m not alone – not every dad is easy to read and predictable.
And I also know that using his zodiac sign as a guide to help me plan something fun and memorable for him definitely helps.
Once you’re ready to plan, find out your father’s zodiac sign is so you can decide exactly what to do for your dad on Father’s Day, according to astrology.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
The Aries dad wants to do something fun for Father’s Day this year – something he will remember until the next Father’s Day rolls around. He probably also wants to do something very dad-like, like go to a sports game. Take him to a baseball game where you can pound a beer, eat hot dogs, and get a sunburn. Does anything else really say “Father’s Day” better than this?!
When the game is over, grab a late lunch and bond over the great day you had together. Really, all an Aries dad wants is to spend time with the people he loves on his special day, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it extra special for him, right? As long as he gets to end the day with a big smile on his face, he’ll feel like his Father’s Day was a success.
TAURUS (April 20 - May 20)
The Taurus dad is a very simple, traditional dad when it comes to what he wants. Father’s Day is really no different than the holiday season or his birthday. The best thing to do for him on Father’s Day (or any holiday) is to get him a practical gift and give him the family time he’s really looking forward to. Oh, and don’t forget to take a few pictures. If anything is the most valuable gift you can give him, it’s a photo to remember.
Taurus will appreciate any gift you get him, but what he really likes are practical gifts that he can use right away. Is he handy? Maybe a new set of tools. Or maybe he’s more of the family chef. Then a cast iron skillet and some grilling tools might be more his style. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make him happy, as long as you’re there to spend Father’s Day with him.
GEMINI (May 21 - June 20)
The Gemini dad is someone who absolutely loves to try new things – heck, that’s probably why you’re always up for some fun and excitement, too (you learned from the best). On Father’s Day, tap into that fun-loving side of him and take him to do something he hasn’t done before. Take him to try that new restaurant downtown or to a craft brewery.
Okay, he probably has eaten in a restaurant and drank beer before, but what will make it fun is if you’re trying a totally new cuisine or tasting different kinds of beers. Anything to stimulate his palate and make your plans more of a learning experience will be right up his alley. What’s also great about these Father’s Day plans is that they’re evergreen – you can do the same thing every year without really doing the same thing.
CANCER (June 21 - July 22)
The Cancer dad is another one of those traditional dads when it comes to Father’s Day. He would much rather do something like dinner with his family than do something crazy that includes spending money, traveling and a whole lot of other nonsense. Of course, just because he’s the dad most likely to tell you he doesn’t need anything when he has you, you can still make his special day a good one.
The best thing to do for your Cancer dad is to cookout at home and get him the most dad-like gifts you can find. Grill up some burgers and hot dogs, grab some lawn chairs and sit outside with a couple of beers, and gift him with a homemade picture frame or a personalized keychain. He’ll appreciate getting to stay home on Father’s Day and spend time with his family the way he wants.
LEO (July 23 - August 22)
The Leo dad is a lavish one. When it’s Father’s Day, he wants to live it up as much as possible because it’s his day and he deserves a break. The best thing you can do for your father on his special day is do everything you can to give him the most lavish day he could ask for. Think to explore a new place together or spending a little extra cash to give him a VIP kind of day.
Take him golfing on a picturesque course, kayaking in the sunshine, or take a day trip to a new city. He’ll obviously love that you planned something so perfect for him, but he’ll also love that you’re the one he gets to spend the day with. Not only will you make some awesome memories, but Father’s Day also might just become his favorite holiday after you show him how much you love him.
VIRGO (August 23 - September 22)
The Virgo dad is a very down-to-earth father who will want his Father’s Day to be meaningful. Unless he’s really had his eye on a certain thing you could gift him or a place he’d like to try, let him do something for you instead. You don’t have to go overboard with your Father’s Day plans with him. In fact, you should probably leave the expensive, complicated ideas out of your plans altogether.
This Father’s Day, let your Virgo dad teach you something. Is he really good with wood or leatherworking? Ask him to teach you how to make something cool. Maybe he’s got the greenest thumb in the neighborhood – ask him for some tips to make sure your plants stay hydrated during the summer. He’ll end the day feeling like he really imparted some knowledge on you and you’ll feel like you really bonded with him.
LIBRA (September 23 - October 22)
The Libra dad is someone who just wants a little peace and quiet on his big day. He does a lot of things for a lot of people that he really just wants to focus on his day. If your dad is a Libra, the best thing you can do for him is ask him what he wants to do. Do all of his favorite things with him, whatever that means for him.
If his favorite things are throwing on sweatpants, watching television, and taking a nap, then ask him what he feels like watching on TV. If he wants to get all dressed up, drink some whiskey, and smoke cigars, drive him to a classy place downtown. He’ll like the fact that he gets to spend his day stress-free rather than make more decisions (give your dad a day off for once!).
SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21)
The Scorpio dad loves to be in charge – whether everyone else likes that or not. If he isn’t already blowing up your phone giving you “hints” about what he wants to do on Father’s Day (which are really just suggestions that he’s probably already booked and scheduled), he’s already made plans and is just asking you to join him.
Slow down, dad. It’s time for someone else to take the reigns… kind of. The best thing you can do for your Scorpio dad is let him decide what he wants to do and pick up the check. He might still be calling all of the shots, but you’ll be fitting the bill, so it’ll still feel like you’re gifting him something special on Father’s Day, even if there really isn’t an element of surprise.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
The Sagittarius dad wants to know that his Father’s Day is going to be a day to remember – he also wants to know that if he chooses to spend it with friends and family that it’ll be extra special. On Father’s Day, give your dad the best of both worlds by planning a BBQ with all of his other dad friends. He’ll like that he can spend time with all of his favorite people in a relaxed setting, as well as get in on some tasty food.
Sagittarius would love it if you planned literally anything for him on his special day, but he appreciates it even more than you’re giving him the freedom to just have fun in a casual setting, rather than take him somewhere fancy and stuffy. Fresh air, retro music, and good food (oh, and his family, of course) are all he needs to be happy on Father’s Day.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
The Capricorn dad is yet another one of those traditional Father’s Day dads. When his special day rolls around, he wants to make sure that it’s the daddiest dad day that ever daddied. More specifically, he wants sentimental gifts and dinner with his family. It doesn’t have to be fancy, expensive, or crazy in the slightest – as long as he really feels like a father on this day.
Gift him something only a dad would love, like an embossed wallet or customized headcovers for his gold clubs. And as for dinner, a home-cooked meal will make him happier than a clam – or a dad clam or whatever. As long as you put a smile on his face, your Capricorn dad will call this Father’s Day a huge success.
AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18)
The Aquarius dad needs to tap into his creative side no matter what the holiday is, so get ready to do something educational (but fun) on Father’s Day with him. Even during other holidays, he wants to think outside of the box, so the best thing you can do for him on dad’s day gives him a chance to totally dad out on you in the most Aquarius way possible.
Take him to see live music at an outdoor beer garden, sign up for a cooking class together, or take him to the newest art exhibit at a museum downtown. He’ll love that he gets to do something fun and original with you, as well as enjoy some drinks and food in the process (aren’t all dads the same?!). Most of all, he’ll like that you came up with something creative like this because it means you really wanted to make him happy.
PISCES (February 19 - March 20)
The Pisces dad wants a Father’s Day that incorporates a little bit of nature, a little bit of family time, and a little bit of tradition all in one. I mean, you could probably impress him with pretty much anything on his day and still get him to tear up a bit, but it’s always nice to go above and beyond for your dad no matter what he says about not caring as long as he’s with you.
Take your Pisces dad hiking and then to a picnic somewhere special. He’ll love getting some fresh air and stretching his legs, as well as sharing a picnic made by you, for him. As for the somewhere special, is there a place from your childhood he always took you? Bring him back for some good memories and a chance to bond your dad on his special day.
Emily Ratay is a full-time writer living in Pittsburgh. She's passionate about the environment and feminism, and knows that anything is possible in the right pair of shoes. She plans on writing a non-fiction book in the future.