Wikipedysta:Roo72/Australia Day

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Australia Day (dosłownie - "Dzień Australii"), znany także jako Anniversary Day i Foundation Day święto państwowe Australii obchodzone 26 stycznia upamiętniające założenie przez kapitana Arthur Phillip (późniejszego Gubernatora Australii) pierwszej stałej ossady w Australii - kolonii karnej przy Port Jackson (dzisiejsze Sydney). Australia Day obchodzony jest we wszystkich stanach i terytoriach Australii, jest to dzień wolny od pracy, jeżeli przypada w sobotę lub w niedzielę to dniem wolnym od pracy staje się poniedziałek.

On Australia Day, the winner of the Australian of the Year award is announced by the Prime Minister; the award is given to any Australian citizen who has shown a "significant contribution to the Australian community and nation", and is an "inspirational role model for the Australian community".^[1] Subcategories of the award include "Young" and "Senior Australian of the Year", and an award for the "Australian Local Hero".

Recorded celebrations date back to 1808, and in 1818, Governor Lachlan Macquarie held the first official celebration of Australia Day.^[2] In 2004, an estimated 7.5 million people attended Australia Day celebrations and functions across the country.^[2]

[edytuj] History

26 January 1788 was the date on which the First Fleet, under Captain Arthur Phillip arrived at Sydney Cove and established the Colony of New South Wales. By 26 January 1808, the day that the New South Wales Corps arrested Governor Bligh in the Rum Rebellion, it was being celebrated as 'First Landing' or 'Foundation Day'. In 1818 (the 30th anniversary) Governor Macquarie had a 30-gun salute at Dawes Point and gave government workers a holiday^[3] - a tradition that was soon followed by banks and other public offices.

In 1888 all colonial capitals (with the exception of Adelaide) celebrated 'Anniversary Day' and by 1935 all states of Australia were celebrating 26 January as Australia Day (although it was still known as Anniversary Day in New South Wales).

The 1938 sesquicentenary (150th anniversary) of British settlement in Australia was widely celebrated. Preparations began in 1936 with the formation of a Celebrations Council. In that year, New South Wales was the only state to abandon the traditional long weekend and the annual Anniversary Day public holiday was held on the actual anniversary day - Wednesday 26 January.^[4]

In 1946 the Commonwealth and State governments agreed to unify the celebrations on 26 January as 'Australia Day', although the public holiday was instead taken on the Monday closest to 26 January.^[5]

Since 1994 all states and territories have taken the Australia Day public holiday on 26 January.^[5]

[edytuj] Celebrations

A typical country Citizenship Ceremony

Lotterywest Skyworks. Perth's Australia Day celebration attracted 500,000 people in 2006.

Australia Day is a national day and public holiday. For some years the holiday was held on the closest Monday, to provide a long weekend. It is now held on the actual anniversary, with that day being the public holiday.

The National Australia Day Council (NADC) is the coordinating body for the Australian of the Year Awards and Australia Day celebrations across the nation. The NADC heads a network of state and territory Australia Day affiliate organisations and local Australia Day committees.

Australia Day is marked by civic celebrations around the country, including the Order of Australia and Australian of the Year awards for outstanding achievement. Air Force aerial displays are held in some capital cities. In Sydney the ferry race and tall ships race has become tradition, along with a surfing race across the harbour.

Citizenship ceremonies are also held on Australia Day. The Australia Day Achievement Medallion is awarded to citizens based on excellence in both government and non-government organisations. Customarily, the Prime Minister will make an address to the nation.

Fireworks celebrations are held in many towns and cities around the country. The Perth Lotterywest Skyworks display is billed as the largest Australia Day celebration in the country, with more than a third of the city's population (around 500,000 estimated for the 2006 Skyworks) lining the river foreshore for the display.

The Australian music scene enjoys a significant event on Australia Day - the Triple J Hottest 100. The Sydney leg of the Big Day Out music festival has also traditionally occurred on Australia Day, however in 2007, the date was moved to 25 January due to the flag ban controversy at the event. There is also often a one day cricket match such as the 2006 Australia Day match in Adelaide. In Canberra the Australia Day Live Concert takes place where the Australian of the Year is announced.

[edytuj] Suggested changes to the date

Some have suggested making ANZAC Day Australia's national day, or changing to 1 January, commemorating 1 January 1901 when Australia's six colonies federated into one nation. Each of the alternatives raised also poses problems — ANZAC Day because many war veterans believe that it is their day, and that it is also a public holiday in New Zealand, Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga, while 1 January is already a public holiday and is in the middle of the Christmas holiday season.

Many supporters of the continued use of Australia Day as Australia's national day point out that 26 January commemorates an actual historical event, similar to ANZAC Day, Bastille Day in France, Canada Day in Canada, Independence Day in the United States, and Republic Day in various nations.

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