January 26th 2025

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As a kid in the 60's & 70's and a young adult in the 80's patriotism just wasn't a thing.
Not the loud imported American kind at least.

My parents and grandparents generations had fought in world wars, farmed the land, worked hard and thought we were pretty lucky to live free in Australia but I don't remember ever seeing an Australian flag outside officialdom.

The working class Aussies I grew up with were larrikins and didn't go in at all for all the rah rah, Aussie Aussie crap.

Even Anzac Day was for quiet reflection on the horrors of war and playing 2 up with your mates. Not the nationalistic, jingoism crap we get from pollies now. The further we get from the horrors of war the more we get away from what the spirit of the day was intended for.

I don't mind the idea of a day celebrating founding of the country but in this day and age it should include respect for the original inhabitants of this country and acknowledge appropriately the harms committed on them by colonial imperialism.
 

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I will be celebrating the anniversary of the Rum Rebellion.
I still think we need to find an Australian Day to celebrate rather than laud a British date.
 
Notwithstanding the political debate, I think the timing of Australia Day makes perfect sense in these modern times.

It comes about a fortnight after most people have returned from work which helps smooth people into the work grind. And its during summer and January is generally the best time of year weather wise in Australia. There are also major events happening such as the tennis, cricket as well as events that suit January such as night markets, beaches etc.

Personally I find that Australia Day kick starts my work year. Puts a full stop to the holiday period.
 
Notwithstanding the political debate, I think the timing of Australia Day makes perfect sense in these modern times.

It comes about a fortnight after most people have returned from work which helps smooth people into the work grind. And its during summer and January is generally the best time of year weather wise in Australia. There are also major events happening such as the tennis, cricket as well as events that suit January such as night markets, beaches etc.

Personally I find that Australia Day kick starts my work year. Puts a full stop to the holiday period.

By that definition having the day as a guaranteed long weekend rather than specifically the 26th would be better.
 
I'll be wearing green and gold in some form, maybe the Rugby Union top. And celebrating all things Australiana.

Except it’s not green and gold that “patriots” wear on Jan 26 it’s red white and blue:




Green and Gold is for sporting events.

It is undeniable that displays of the national flag have decreased on the 26th offer the last 10 years or so:


I think the boom in displaying the national flag that started in the 90s was stopped by the Cronulla riots, then the early 2010s “patriot” rallies further stigmatised the flag, along with all the anti vaxxer rallies. Greater recognition of indigenous concerns also had a part to play.

Last year I walked around my suburb and drove around the city on the 26th. I could count the amount of Australian flags or flag clothing worn by people or displayed on houses or cars on one hand. Blink and you’d miss it. I’ll keep an eye out this 26th but I doubt a bit more angry shouting from Sky ‘News’ isn’t going to bring back the flag waving of the 90s and 00s so I predict again it’ll be just another public holiday
 
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Cooking meat over flame outdoors is a stable of every culture not just this one


English game, also declining in popularity


Wrong time of year

Beach weather

Not specifically Australian

Being Alive

Not specifically Australian

Being a true blue dinky di Aussie


Lots of “true blue” Aussies don’t give a F about Australia Day.


None of what you’ve said is a real reason to ‘celebrate’ a national day.

About 200 countries in the world, about 140 have their national day as a celebration of independence or end of colonial rule. About 45 of those celebrate the end of British colonial rule. There’s only one that observes the START of British colonial rule as their national day.

We are also the only country to observe the national day on a date where people from another country did something. Germans celebrate when Germans reunified the country. French celebrate when French people overthrew the Monarchy. Americans celebrate Americans signing the Declaration of Independence.

Australians “celebrate” British ships manned by British sailors carrying British convicts arriving to create a British penal colony under a British Governor and a British flag. How ridiculous!
 

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I'll dress like Lleyton Hewitt on Australia Day, try and stop me.

Beats wearing Hawthorn merch 24/7!! rocker_oz33
You can't be serious lol....in a John Mac voice.

Yeah you need to break things up now that then..

Go full colour dress like Rafa.
 
You can't be serious lol....in a John Mac voice.

Yeah you need to break things up now that then..

Go full colour dress like Rafa.

Haha I'll deviate into the Barcelona FC '12 away kit (have posted it here ages ago - shirt, shorts and socks = one big sunrise). It's gold jerry gold.
 

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January 26th 2025

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