By THÉRÊSE MARGOLIS

In Mexico, Mother’s Day is a very big deal, with mandatory presents, commemorative lunches and even mariachi serenades.

Father’s Day, not so much.

In case you are interested, the much-maligned holiday for Pops came into existence back in 1909 in the United States, when a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd, “tried to establish an official equivalent to Mother’s Day for male parents.”

She went around to local businesses to gather support for her idea, and, finally, on June 19, 1910, the state of Washington celebrated the first-ever Father’s Day.

Slowly, as a result of commercial promotion, the celebration caught on in other parts of the United States and, eventually, worldwide.

Ever since, the unofficial holiday has been a rather unroaring success celebrated in most countries around the world on the third Sunday in June, bringing in just under 15 percent of the increased retail sale revenues that its May counterpart commemorating Mom does.

But that doesn’t mean that you should skimp when it comes to recognizing Dear Ol’ Dad come Sunday, June 21. (Yup, that’s the date this year, so mark it in your calendar and remember to congratulate the other half of the duo that brought you into this world, even if their contribution to the biological process was only about seven minutes, compared to Mom’s nine months.)

No one is expecting you to roll out the same spectacular fanfare for Dad that you do for Mom, but a thoughtful gift will make his day, and will no doubt be much appreciated.

Here are some suggestions, all great products that you can order online now (a useful trait in the days of covid-19 lockdown) and have delivered to your father in time for Father’s Day:

Polo Chic

If your dad is guilty of wearing the same old torn pair of sweatpants and raggedy T-shirt day-in-and-day-out (okay, yes, we have all succumbed to the covid-19 grungy slump during lockdown), try sprucing up his wardrobe a little with a new shirt.

No, you are not going to get him to put on a suit and tie during quarantine.

But a sleek, fashionable (hole-free) polo shirt from Ermenegildo Zegna would be a welcome addition to his wardrobe, coronavirus lockdown or no coronavirus lockdown.

The classic polo shirt is an iconic item that never goes out of style, and is versatile enough to wear with dress slacks or jeans.

Zegna’s spring/summer 2020 line is all about comfort, and wearability.

The Zegna polo is available in cotton, silk and linen, and in a variety of colors.

There also some great short-sleeved Ermenegildo Zegna seersucker shirts and relaxed cargo pants that easily transition from formal to informal, and viceversa.

Cristian Fashion

How about giving your father a little bit on Mexican history?

Back in 1926, when then-Mexican President Plutarco Elías Calles proclaimed what would come to be known as the Law of Religious Intolerance, the government tried to limit the presence of religious observance outside the Catholic Church and restrict the freedoms of the nation’s faithful.

Much to the government’s surprise, the new edict met with immediate rejection, both from religious and nonreligious Mexicans, who were willing to take up arms to defend their rights to practice their beliefs.

During the three-year Cristero War,  thousands of Mexicans lost their lives fighting for what they perceived as an inalienable right.

Now, Cristeros, the Mexican jewelry design house, has created a special collection of silver jewelry dedicated to the bravery of the Cristero War fighters.

The collection, titled My Rebellion, encapsulates the fierce individuality and commitment to justice of these fallen heroes, along with the spirit of Mexico’s turbulently unique history.

Available only on line, the limited edition Cristeros My Rebellion collection includes rings, arm bands, necklaces and pendants.

Hair Express

Nashi, that incredible Italian haircare line that has made your tresses finally learn to stay put and resist frizz, now has a men’s haircare collection.

The Nashi Argon for Men collection includes a face and beard cleanser, a balm moisturizing aftershave, a shower gel for hair and body (hey, men like to consolidate their hygiene routines) and a nourishing oil for hair and beard.

All Nashi products use four core natural ingredients to protect hair and keep it healthy and shiny.

The first ingredient, collagen, provides strength and elasticity.

Keratin protein protects hair cells at the follicle level against external damage and stress.

The third major Nashi ingredient, stem cells, act as antioxidants, rejuvenating hair to look brighter and more vibrant day after day.

And the final ingredient, elastin, gives hair resilience to keep its shape and natural style.

Puzzling Love

With all of us spending a lot more time indoors than we used to, a jigsaw puzzle can be a thoughtful gift for your father that will keep him entertained for hours without having to binge another series on Netflix.

Regalo MX, a 100 percent Mexican company run by two sisters, will create a personalized, handmade, 96-piece puzzle from any image for as little as 500 pesos and ship it anywhere in Mexico or abroad.

Regalo MX also offers personalized mosaics made from your favorite photographs and personalized sound recordings.

And there is even a little metal tree of life where you can have the company attach tiny photographs of all those wonderful memories you have of your father and you together. (Okay, maybe not the time he was trying to teach you to drive and you ran his brand new Mustang into a light post.)

For a complete list of the company’s gift options, consult the Regalo MX website.

Sailing Scent

Dad may not be able to get out on a yatch right now, but he can still feel the zest and invigoration of the high seas with a gift of Moschino Forever Sailing.

This brisk, airy eau de toilette for men, first launched in 2013, has delicious top notes of succulent mint, lemon and grapefruit.

The fragrance then opens into a sensuous heart of wild lavender and juniper.

Moschino Forever Sailing closes with lingering musky notes of amber and patchouli, reminiscent of old cedar on a stately sailing vessel.

Moschino, an Italian brand founded in 1983, also has a wide variety of chic clothing and accessories for the fashion-conscious Dad.

You can order Moschino Forever Sailing online from Liverpool.

Versace-esque Fire

If, on the other hand, your father is more of a hot Latino lover than a free-sailing adventurer, try giving him the latest Versace fragrance, Versace Eros Flame.

This sensuous scent is a titillating variation of the original Eros, with a unexpected contrast of hot and cold, sweet and spicy and light and shadow.

Developed by perfumier Olivier Pescheux for “the strong, passionate, self-confident man who is deeply in touch with his emotions,Versace Eros Flame “opens with Italian citruses and spicy black pepper to a seductive heart of pepperwood, geranium and rose facets, closing with a warm base of woods, tonka and vanilla.

This erotic scent can trun any man into a major player.

Oh, My Dior

If you really want to lift your dad’s spirits (and hygeine practices), try giving him an entire set of exclusive toiletries from Dior in that oh-so-irresistible scent of Sauvage.

Fronted by superstar Johnny Depp (and what man doesn’t want to be a Johnny Depp doppelgänger?), the seductive scent of Sauvage Parfum — the latest edition to this ultra-masculine line of fragrances for men — is a new, highly concentrated interpretation of the original Sauvage, melding extreme freshness with warm oriental tones and wild beauty that comes to life on the skin.

François Demachy, the Dior perfumier who created the scent, drew inspiration from unspoiled expanses of wilderness beneath a blue-tinged night sky, as the intense aromas of a crackling fire rise into the air.

Dior Sauvage Parfum represents a new frontier, an interpretation with a rich, heady trail that celebrates the magic of wide-open spaces.

There is an entire line of Dior Sauvage personal care products, from deodorant and aftershave to moisturizers and cleansers.

Tiffany Tick-Tock

If you really want to wow Dad this Father’s Day, splurge and buy him a watch from Tiffany.

Elegantly designed with a masterful blend of form and function, every Tiffany watch combines precision Swiss engineering with classic elegance and style.

The square-faced 27 millimeter, 18-karat gold, traditional Tiffany 1837 comes with a black crocodile strap and a timelessly elegant porcelain face that will never go out of style.

Tiffany also has an impressive collection of gold and silver cufflinks, wrist bands and other accessories just for men.

You can order all these items from the Tiffany México website.

…June 3, 2020