Fathers Day or Bā bā Day in the Republic of China and Mongolia, Taiwan

Many Chinese people have adopted saying “bye-bye” in conversation just as in English. However, when it comes to typing or using your phone, this is often abbreviated to just “88” (bā bā) because it sounds very close to “bye-bye.” Additionally, typing “88” instead of “bye-bye” is easier because you don’t need to switch between the pinyin and English on your keyboard.

In Chinese mainland, Father's Day (the third Sunday in June) is almost unknown. It isn't a public holiday, but expats in China might celebrate it. Perhaps some Western fathers might be honored on the day by their family, friends, or workmates.

This wasn't always the case though. During the WWII years, Father's Day was celebrated on August 8. The Republic of China government wanted to celebrate the soldiers who died and honor fathers. They chose that date because in Chinese August 8 can be shortened to "bā bā". This sounds similar to the informal word for father (爸爸, bàba). This tradition dropped off in the Chinese mainland, but was continued in Taiwan under the Republic of China government.