So, what will you be doing on January 26th? We know what we’ll be doing. We’ll be tooting those colourful trumpets you get at kids birthday parties, wearing silly hats, and blowing out quite a few candles on a great big cake, because January 26th is our editor’s birthday and we’ll be having a party. It’ll be quite a celebration, but probably not as big as the party going on down under, because around 9.5 thousand miles away, an entire country will be going berserk as they celebrate a birth of a different kind – Australia Day, arguably the biggest festivity our Commonwealth friends enjoy every year.
Australia Day is a celebration of the original landing of British Naval ships, a date that marks that moment a small fleet sailed for the first time into Sydney Cove, New South Wales back in 1788. It signalled a new age for the once isolated island, and since then Australia has grown into a profitable nation, with a rich culture, unique history, and world-famous beaches. Its people are friendly and warm, and nowhere will you get a better welcome in the Southern Hemisphere than this iconic island. Australia Day celebrations are designed to recognize native culture and its indigenous people, as well as celebrate the hundreds of thousands of settlers who continue to colonize its sun-drenched shores. Events can take many forms, from the ostentatious, to the downright crazy, and they happen all over the world as Australians everywhere get ready to party.
Here in the UK, London joins in on the action. Head to Camden Town where the trendiest urban bars whip up some mid-winter BBQ heat, test your mettle with some realistic kangaroo boxing, and crack open an Aussie beer or two. Over the ‘pond’ in the USA, (where everything is bigger and better than on our reserved European shores) they don’t celebrate Australia Day. Why? They celebrate Australia Week, of course. A seven day extravaganza of the best Australian wines, all-day reruns of celebrity hunk (sorry, chef) Curtis Stone at work, and gala dinners to show off their strong tourism links with our Australian cousins.
In Japan, the annual celebration is marked by a high profile black tie ball, led by Tokyo’s Australian Society. A four course gourmet dinner with all Australian produce, and copious amounts of imported wine mark the occasion. It’s all for a good cause too, because the proceeds go directly to local charities. In fact, the Japanese enjoy this event so much, they hold another one in April under the guise of Australia Day in Spring. Ah well, any excuse for a good knees up, we say.
But let’s be honest, if you’re going to join in the festivities of Australia’s favourite annual festival, there’s only one place to do it. In iconic Sydney Harbour, where those wooden ships sailed in so many years ago. These days, there are more than just a few boats. A symphony of lights and music illuminates the skies over Cockle Bay and Darling Harbour, fireworks crackle overhead in a dazzling spectacle of kaleidoscopic colour, and enormous outdoor stages host performers from around the world. And that’s not all, because the run up to this main event sees the streets taken over by a 10k, fun time for kids at a garish carnival display, outdoor public BBQs, and our favourite – the WugulOra Ceremony – where Aboriginal and Australian flags are hoisted aloft on the poles at Sydney Harbour.
Sound too good to miss? We think so too. So, while we’re contenting ourselves with some homemade fudge cake and a glass of sparkling apple juice or two (we might even get crazy and dress in red, white and blue), why don’t you think about hitting the Sydney coastline to really get in on the Australia Day action. A little bird tells us that Emirates can fly you there direct, so there’s no excuse for hanging around here. Go catch some winter sun, and don’t forget to tell us what you get up to while you’re there.
