Thousands of immigrants become citizens of Australia at ceremonies held across the country, and many Australians take the day off to celebrate by hosting barbecues and basking in the summer sun.
However, January 26 is a day of mourning for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and an increasing number of non-Indigenous people who stand in support of them.
As the debate over the date continues, some companies, schools, and government agencies are letting employees choose to take off another day.
The National Australia Day Committee has recently encouraged Australians to “gather with friends, family, and their community to reflect, respect, and celebrate,” expanding the scope of the holiday to include Indigenous peoples and new migrants.
According to University of Tasmania historian Kate Darian-Smith, changing the date of Australia Day would be an admission that the date of January 26 is not seen as significant for modern Australia.
Day In The History Of Australia
Australia Day, celebrated annually on January 26, honours the arrival of British ships in 1788, which led to the establishment of the first European settlement in Australia. More than seven hundred and fifty prisoners were transported from Britain on eleven ships.
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They had been convicted of various offences and sent to British penal colonies in North America, the Pacific, and elsewhere. Three hundred more people, mostly from the military and the medical professions, made the journey to Australia and helped establish the colony there.
In 1818, the British held their first official celebration of their dominance along Australia’s eastern coast. In addition to “Anniversary Day,” “Foundation Day,” and “Australian Natives’ Association” (ANA) Day, many other names have been used to describe this significant date.
Since its adoption as the name of the day across all Australian jurisdictions in 1935, January 26 has been celebrated as a national holiday. Australia Day is celebrated throughout the country as a day of national unity and the country’s largest annual civic event.
Many ceremonies, including the awarding of national honors and the welcoming of new citizens, as well as a wide range of community and family traditions, take place on this day. Although not every Aussie celebrates Australia Day in the same way.
Native Australians have marked this date as a day of mourning and protest against the arrival of British settlers for many years. The holiday has become the subject of heated debate, and counter-celebrations continue to be held by some.
A member of the Aboriginal Progressive Association named William Cooper in 1938 declared it a “Day of Mourning,” referring to the annual reenactment of Phillip’s landing.
Many Aboriginal people remember the many ancestors who perished or suffered greatly as a result of colonization on Australia Day. Today also includes a newfound appreciation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage.
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There have been calls to move Australia Day to a different date in honor of the country’s Indigenous people. The Australian government has recognized the traditional owners of the land on which Australia Day is celebrated in the hopes that the country’s diverse population will unite in honor of its multicultural heritage.
- Let the Games Begin!
When it comes to events commemorating Australia Day, Brisbane’s cockroach race series is among the most unusual. - In honour of differences
Seventy-five percent or more of Australians agree that Australia Day should be used to honour and appreciate the country’s diverse cultural heritage. - Colors representing the country
On Australia Day, a lot of people don green and gold. In 1984, this palette was adopted as Australia’s official national colours. - Plenty of Vegemite
Vegemite is a necessary component of any Australia Day celebration. Approximately 22 million jars of the popular dark brown yeast spread are sold every year, making it an essential item for many American families. - “The Star-Spangled Banner”
Australia Day celebrates the country’s national anthem, “Advance Australia Fair,” which was written in 1878 but only adopted as such in 1984.
So far, there isn’t a remarkably better-accepted date to celebrate Australia Day.
In the words of Professor Darian-Smith, “it’s just a little more complicated than wanting to hold on to that moment when [Captain Arthur Phillip] came into Botany Bay.”
Some people’s identification of Australia with a carefree, sunny lifestyle may explain the significance some place on 26 January, which occurs in summer.
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It could also be the date of the Eureka Stockade on December 3, 1854, or the 9th of July, when Queen Victoria gave consent to the Constitution of Australia.
There is also the anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (February 13), the apology to the Stolen Generations (February 13), Sorry Day (May 26), the anniversary of the 1967 referendum (May 27), NAIDOC week (beginning the first Sunday of July), and the anniversary of the 1967 referendum (13 September).
However, for the time being, January 26th remains Australia Day.
