International Men's Day: 10 Facts About Men and Gift Ideas

In November many countries mark two "men's days": World Men's Day on the first Saturday of the month and International Men's Day on 19 November. It is a good occasion to talk not about stereotypes but about what science actually knows about men: their health, perception and emotions. Here are 10 research-backed facts and ideas for celebrating a man, including with flowers. Ideas for other people and occasions are in our guide what to give: gift ideas.

When men's day is celebrated

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International Men's Day (19 November) was first marked in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago and is now observed in more than 80 countries. Its main themes are men's health, the role of fathers, positive role models for boys and gender equality. World Men's Day began in Austria in 2000 and falls on the first Saturday of November. Neither is an official UN day, but both have become occasions for health campaigns.

Where the day came from

International Men’s Day is marked on 19 November. The modern tradition was started in 1999 by historian Jerome Teelucksingh from Trinidad and Tobago, who chose his father’s birthday as the date. The idea is not to set men against women but to focus on men’s health, positive role models for boys, fathers’ roles in families and equality. Today it is marked in dozens of countries, including Ukraine, though it is not a public holiday.

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10 science-backed facts about men

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1. Men live shorter lives. According to the WHO, the global life expectancy gap is about 5 years in women's favour, and in Ukraine it is considerably larger.
2. Colour blindness is mostly male. Colour vision deficiency affects about 8% of men of European descent and only 0.5% of women, because the gene is on the X chromosome.
3. They see doctors less often. Men seek medical help later and have fewer preventive check-ups.
4. They ask for psychological help less often, even though they experience stress and anxiety just as much.
5. Voices break because of testosterone: during puberty the vocal folds lengthen and thicken, lowering the pitch.

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6. A beard grows about 1–1.5 cm a month, and its thickness depends mainly on genetics and follicle sensitivity to hormones, not on how often you shave.
7. Women have a keener sense of smell on average. Studies show more neurons in women's olfactory bulbs, so men are less able to tell scents apart, including floral ones.
8. Slightly more men are left-handed: about 12% compared with 10% of women. Read about famous left-handed people.
9. Men take more risks: according to the WHO, about three quarters of road traffic deaths worldwide are men.
10. Men like receiving flowers, even though they get them far less often than women. Find out why in why men don't give flowers.

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Myths it is time to drop

• "Men don't cry." Crying is a natural reaction for anyone, and suppressing emotions harms health.
• "Men think about sex every 7 seconds." Research does not support this: the frequency varies widely and is much lower on average.
• "Male and female brains are fundamentally different." There are average differences, but individual variation within each sex is far greater. More in men and women: myths and facts.

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How to celebrate a man

Men's day is a great reason to remind loved ones about their health: give a gym membership, book a check-up or simply spend time together. And yes, you can and should give men flowers. Choose clean shapes and deep colours: calla lilies, strelitzia, anthuriums, proteas, blue hydrangeas, burgundy roses and plenty of greenery. A potted plant is a good alternative, such as an anthurium, nicknamed "men's happiness" in Ukraine, a snake plant or a succulent arrangement.

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Celebrating male colleagues at work

The day suits a small office gesture: a shared breakfast or lunchtime pizza, identical token gifts — travel mugs, good coffee, chocolate, books. Or show care for men’s health: a massage voucher, a check-up or a gym pass. Most important is a sincere thank-you for their work and support, said in front of the whole team.

How to give flowers to a man

• Keep it simple: say briefly what you are grateful for or happy about.
• Consider the setting: a small bouquet or a plant suits an office, while any format works at home.
• Add something edible such as coffee, chocolate or nuts; almost everyone likes a gift basket.

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Frequently asked questions

When is International Men's Day?

19 November; World Men's Day is on the first Saturday of November.

Is it OK to give a man flowers?

Yes. Choose clean-lined bouquets in deep colours or a potted plant.

Which flowers are considered "masculine"?

Calla lilies, strelitzia, anthuriums, proteas, irises, gladioli and dark roses, but what matters most is that the recipient likes them.

What if he does not care for flowers?

Succulents, a cactus or a basket of treats: browse our gift baskets.

For the autumn holiday, see our Day of Defenders of Ukraine wishes.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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