Every day is an opportunity to shower your significant other with love, but there’s an official holiday dedicated to celebrating your husband that happens once a year. Husband Appreciation Day, also known as National Husband Day or World Husband Day, is a full day intended to honor your spouse, and it falls on the third Saturday in April each year. Here’s everything to know about the holiday, including its history and the best ways to celebrate.
From taking out the trash every morning to asking about your day every evening, your partner probably plays a big role in making your life easier and more enjoyable. He deserves to know how much he means to you, so Husband Appreciation Day is a day to express gratitude for who he is and all that he does. With the routines, schedules, and obligations of everyday life, you might forget to thank your spouse for his support and company or voice the qualities you admire most about him—even if you’re thinking it. This holiday is a reminder to take time out of your busy days to make him feel loved, valued, admired, and appreciated.
By observing this holiday, licensed relationship therapist Jaime Bronstein explains that routinely celebrating this wonderful man in your life will strengthen your union, boost your emotional bond, and improve relationship satisfaction. “By taking the time to celebrate each other, you send a clear message that your relationship is a priority,” she says. “This commitment to nurturing your connection can contribute to long-term relationship success.”
Although the origin of Husband Appreciation Day is unclear, many believe this holiday began as a counterpart to Father’s Day—which falls on the third Sunday in June—so husbands without any children could feel acknowledged, too. However, Husband Appreciation Day is a day to appreciate all husbands, regardless of whether they are fathers.
The purpose of the holiday and the focus of the celebration has also changed over time. In the past, husbands were traditionally viewed as the breadwinner of the family and were expected to support their wives and families. Now, the role of the husband has shifted to include a larger contribution around the household, so partners have much more to honor than just their spouses’ triumphs in the workplace.
