Australia Day: Australia Celebrates National Holiday on Jan. 26
Australia Day is a national holiday in the country, marking the arrival of the British settlers in 1788.
January 26 saw the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Britain as well as the holiday commemorates commander Captain Arthur Phillip’s raising of the Union Jack at Sydney cove.
But Australia Day has become a chance for a general party of what’s great about Australia and being Australian.
Over half of the nation’s 21 million inhabitants celebrate by going to an organised event in their own community or by meeting up with family and friends on the holiday.
It is also a chance for new citizens to observe their Australian citizenship.
The Google Doodle on the Australian website of the search engine of Monday pictured a weeping mom sitting in an ochre desert, dreaming of her children. Ineka Voigt drew the doodle from Canberra High School, who entered it into a contest run by Google Australia to have her drawing placed on the Google Australia homepage.
Ahead of the national day, seven out of eight Australian state and territory leaders have signed a statement that “Australia should have an Australian head of state”, increasing the demand among some republicans that the monarchy ought to be abandoned before the Queen’s reign ends.
After Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull got power the argument over the monarchy was reignited.
Australian of the Year
The Prime Minister awarded the Mr Morrison, who is widely known for a video of him ordering army troops to accept women as equals going viral, at a ceremony in Parliament House.
London celebrations
The capital’s largest parties promises to be in Belushi’s bars in London Bridge and Shepherds Bush. It promises to be the top bar for London-based Aussies, Belushi’s are putting on events at two of their London bars this year.
For a pub creep, head to the Translate Bar in Shoreditch where the Bogan Bar Crawl will begin. There’ll be another bar creep in Shoreditch on Saturday evening.
South Londoners can head for Bogan Bingo, commonly Australian drinks and partying to the Clapham Grand.
Or head to the Grand Union in Brixton and for barbie-themed festivities, sizzling sausages and “Australian inspired antics”.
For the complete Australian experience, head to Fitzrovia’s Jetlag Sportsbar for an early morning showing of the cricket, followed up with a film marathon.
— While in the West End, there is going to be a beach bash themed night at Bar Rumba and yes, another bar crawl, starting in Zoo Bar.
