"It is the day to reflect on what goals we have achieved and what we can be proud of in our great nation"
Australia Day is celebrated on January 26 every year. It is the main national holiday, and is celebrated throughout Australia. There are no imperative rules on how to celebrate Australia Day, but it is good that you participate in any way, for example by taking a day off to dedicate to relaxation or, on the contrary, by partying.
Steps
Step 1. Decide how to celebrate Australia Day
There are many ways to celebrate Australia Day and each of them is good, since then being together with your friends. Probably the most important "rule", as long as we can speak of a "rule", is not to celebrate it alone. Get out of the house and have fun with others. These are some ideas:
- Attend an official event (a concert, a public recognition ceremony, a fireworks show, a parade, etc)
- Attend a local event (a regatta, your neighborhood barbecue, the local sausage sizzle, a face painting event, a musical happening, etc)
- Making a barbecue in your home
- Go to the pub to make a celebratory toast
- Make a celebratory toast at work
- Spend some time on the beach or in the pool, relaxing. Do this before a party night, or directly make the party be at the beach or by the pool!
- Visit a museum and discover the history of Australia
- Whatever!
Step 2. Dress up in Aussie colors
Use clothes, face paint, temporary tattoos, fabrics, jewelry, etc. that suit the style and colors of the occasion. As for the colors, below you will find some of the possible combinations:
- Red, white, blue, as in the flag, with the addition of some stars;
- Wattle yellow and eucalyptus green, in harmony with the typical colors of ancient Australia;
- The colors of the Aboriginal flag, namely black, red (ocher) and yellow;
- The colors of the flag of the Torres Strait Islanders (the indigenous people of the Torres Strait), i.e. green, blue and white. (And maybe even with the symbol of the white dhari, or their headdress).
- A "national costume" of your choice (perhaps even making a mini-competition and assigning small prizes).
- Anything that can adapt to the occasion. As long as you wake up in time to attend the celebrations, dress in something comfortable and with a hat.
Step 3. Watch the fireworks
Many cities and towns have fireworks on the evening of Australia Day. to find a good place to watch the fires. Bring a small radio with you if the radio show follows the fireworks; many radio broadcasters regulate their broadcasts with fireworks.
Step 4. Visit another Australian city to discover their celebrations, which change from year to year
- Visit Sydney. Watch the boats in the harbor by day, and the beautiful fireworks by night.
- Visit the capital. Go to Canberra, the heart of the nation. Here you can watch public recognition ceremonies for Australia Day, participate in picnics, see fireworks, participate in a triathlon (or just watch it), or watch the Chief Minister's sailing regatta.
Step 5. Wave the Australian flag
Hang an Australian flag in your backyard, or stick it to your car, or put it around your neck over your t-shirt. You can choose between the Australian national flag, that of the Aborigines, that of the Torres Strait Islanders or any other Australian flag.
Step 6. Prepare Australian food
Have a feast of lamington (a chocolate-coconut-covered cake), pavlova (a dessert with meringues, cream, and fruit), koala-shaped cookies, or meat-filled pies. Make a cake with the shape of Australia. Make a "floating cake" or two for the 3am snack.
Step 7. Create small handicrafts typical of Australia
Create these small objects with the children and make them reflect typical Australian themes, such as platypus-shaped masks, koala-shaped toys, kangaroo-shaped cut-out objects, or keychains made with eucalyptus nuts.
Step 8. Play the didgeridoo
If you know how to play it, play it in your neighborhood, but know that in traditional Aboriginal culture, only men could play the didgeridoo. Donate funds to local charities. Give away as gifts the objects you no longer use, build a small stand and sell the objects you don't like anymore to some Aussie passionate about celebrations, or if you still want to wear them, wear them: in short, do whatever you feel like doing..
Step 9. Send an Australia Day e-card to your friends and colleagues
Search online for sites that offer this service and wish your Australian friends a very happy Australia Day.
Step 10. Get involved in sports
Play sports, or just watch it, or even smile at those who never have enough. In Australia, this is also the season for cricket and tennis, if you just can't do without sport. A particularly important tradition is also to follow a cricket match by day and to watch fireworks at night.
Advice
- Remember the sunscreen! Don't go out without a hat, sunscreen, and long-sleeved clothes. Red skin and night burns are not a good thing, and they can also cause health problems.
- Make sure Australia Day is a day to stimulate integration. Australia is a state with a great cultural diversity, ranging from Aboriginal culture and the Torres Strait Islanders, to that of Europe, the Pacific and Asia, up to that of new immigrants from all over the world. If there is not much acceptance for diversity in your neighborhood, take a stand for integration and have all the "voices" of Australia represented.
- If you are in Italy and cannot participate in celebrations in Australia, check if entities such as the Italy - Australia Association (https://www.australiaitalia.it/) promote celebratory events.
Warnings
- Drink responsibly and don't drive if you've been drinking. Leave the car at home or have a sober friend who has a driver's license drive.
- Always keep the celebrations in check.
- Don't be too overwhelmed for this special holiday occasion.
