Australia Day — is the national and favorite holiday of Australians — marks the beginning of the development of the Green Continent by Europeans. On January 26, 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip landed in Sydney Cove, raised the British flag and founded the first colony — New South Wales.
This happened 18 years after the discovery of the continent by Captain James Cook.
Philip named the new settlement «Sydney» after Thomas Townshend, the first Viscount Sydney, Secretary of the British Empire in 1784—89, who gave the order to send the fleet.
The first fleet consisted of two warships — Sirius and Sapplay — and nine merchant ships. There is a record of 192 female prisoners, 564 men, 450 sailors, civilian and military personnel, 28 wives and 30 children on the ships.
Until 1808, this day was celebrated as First Landing Day or Foundation Day. In 1818, — for the 30th anniversary of Colony — was ordered by Governor McQuaeri to fire a 30-gun salute and gave civil servants a day off. Soon this tradition was adopted by banks and many public organizations. In 1888, all colonial capitals (with the exception of Adelaide) celebrated the centenary of the landing of the first fleet as Jubilee Day, and by 1935 all states in the country were celebrating 26 January as Australia Day.
For a long time, the official day off fell on the Monday closest to January 26. Since 1994, the official day off and all celebrations fall on January 26th.
On Australia Day, the landing of the first fleet is reproduced throughout the country, and numerous regattas and parades take place. The celebration is marked by numerous fireworks displays. The largest light shows take place annually in the country's third largest city, — Perth.
On this day, a music festival starts in Sydney, and a cricket match starts in Adelaide. Canberra hosts a live music concert as well as one of the country's most honorable awards, — Australian of the Year. According to tradition, the Prime Minister makes an appeal to the nation.
Australia Day — is the perfect time to wear a T-shirt, hat, socks (anything!) with the Australian flag and wear it with undisguised pride. It's also time to decorate your house with balls and — flags to make it look festive. There is also this tradition: colleagues of Australians working abroad give them gifts on this day. Australian workers are allowed a long lunch or even the opportunity to leave work early.
While for most British Australians January 26 is a holiday, many Aboriginal people perceive it as a Day of Mourning. As the true owners of the lands, the aborigines consider this historical fact to be the beginning of the loss of their rights to live as they lived for 40 thousand years. Therefore, Indigenous Australians today are working hard to restore these rights and restore respect for their culture and traditions.
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