Facts About Australia Day

Are you curious to learn some weird and wonderful facts about Australia Day?

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It’s time to chat about Australia Day facts.

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1 – Australia Day is a national public holiday celebrated on January 26.

2 – The day marks the anniversary of the arrival of the British First Fleet in Sydney Cove, New South Wales, on January 26 1788.

3 – In 1901, it was declared a public holiday to celebrate all Australians and their achievements.

4 – It was originally called “foundation day” but renamed “Australia Day” by Sir Henry Parkes in 1838.

5 – Australians celebrate with barbecues, picnics, swimming or water sports, fireworks displays and other outdoor activities.

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6 – Australians also commemorate this day by wearing traditional Australian clothes such as Akubra hats and scarves made out of Australian wool. Also the colors of green and gold and temporary tattoos of the Australia flag.

7 – A common food eaten at celebrations is pavlova which consists of egg whites whipped up into stiff peaks then mixed with sugar syrup that has been cooked until thickened before being topped with cream, strawberries or kiwi fruit slices.

8 – It’s also known as Invasion Day or Survival Day by Aboriginal Australians.

9 – Australian citizenship ceremonies are often held on this day to welcome new citizens into their community.

10 – The Queen Elizabeth II also sends her congratulations to all Australians for their hard work and dedication to making their country great.

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11 – On this day each year, Australians also honor indigenous people and recognize their contributions to society.

12 – Australians celebrate their national day with parties, fireworks, and sporting events. The national flag of Australia is flown proudly throughout this time as well.

13 – A common symbol of Australia Day is the Australian flag which features the Union Jack in one corner and the Southern Cross constellation in another.

14 – On Australia day, there are usually fireworks displays around 7pm local time to celebrate the event at night.

15 – One tradition that is uniquely Australian is the consumption of meat pies on this day which can be traced back to 1838 when an English immigrant named John Aitken arrived at his new home in Melbourne with baked goods for sale but found there was no demand for them because people had no ovens or cooking facilities available to them so he switched to selling meat pies instead.

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16 – In 1938 the day became a national public holiday to celebrate what makes Australian culture unique. This includes our multiculturalism, our love for sports and outdoor activities, and our sense of humor.

17 – The Australian National Flag was officially adopted on July 1st 1901 after being designed by a school boy named Ivor Evans who won a competition to design it.

18 – In recent years more people have been choosing not to take part in celebrations due to this history and its associations with colonization and violence against Aboriginal peoples.

19 – Australians also celebrate with an annual cricket match against England called The Ashes Series which takes place every year from November until March.

20 – Some Indigenous groups have called for an alternative date to be used instead but many Australians still believe that celebrating Australia Day is important because it recognises what makes us uniquely Australian – our culture and history.

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21 – The day commemorates the arrival of the first fleet of 11 ships from Great Britain to establish a penal colony in New South Wales, and it marks the beginning of British colonisation in Australia.

22 – There are typically more than 500 events organised around Australia to mark its national day.

23 – Some people argue that Australia Day should not include any reference to Britain or its monarchy because they are no longer part of our country and we have become an independent nation.

Others believe that celebrating Australia Day with references to Britain is important because it reminds us where we come from and why we are here today.

24 – Other celebrations include singing the national anthem “Advance Australia Fair” while waving Australian flags, playing music by Australian bands or simply enjoying time with friends and family.

25 – Other Australian holidays include Anzac Day (April 25), Queen’s Birthday (June), Labour Day (October) and Christmas Day (December 25).

Facts About Australia Day – 25 Fun Australia Day Facts To WOW You!