Society & Culture Do you do Australia day?

[Cmarsh]

...as in go to Australia day events, parades, wear Australia themed clothing etc.

Personally I find faces painted with flags, Aussie flags waving furiously etc a little cringeworthy.
Also it's a little embarrassing given it's historical roots only really recognising European settlement.

I enjoy watching the Australia day cricket, but that's about all.

So how do you feel about it and what do you do on the day?

 

[ioppolo]

BBQ, Beers and a swim in the pool with mates will do just fine for me.

 

[BotsMaster]

Usually nothing much, might go for a swim and play some FIFA, beers and then later on in the night go out to a club to start a punch on if it suits me.

Oh I might tell someone to get out of our country.

 

[Barry Zuckercorn]

...as in go to Australia day events, parades, wear Australia themed clothing etc.

No. I leave that stuff to the newly arrived Asian people.

 

[Jimmy1992]

Host a BBQ with mates is pretty much the extent of my celebrations.

 

[rayven]

Any good songs about Australia day? Any good tv shows, movies, poems?

Anything like that? I'd Like to know what I'm celebrating,

I can't just celebrate something because I'm told too?

 

[radiojake]

I want to take a piss on the australian flags that are being displayed all over the place

 

[Quivorir]

Couldnt give a shit, I just live here and was born here. Do not buy into all this "i love my country" crap.

 

[iGNITER]

BBQ, Beers and Triple J Hottest 100

 

[Gough]

Breakfast spliffs.

 

[Ross Prunster]

Mongering

 

[Armesy]

You don't have to get involved with all the 'i love my country' stuff.

I love Australia day because we get a day off and its a great excuse to have a BBQ and piss up with my mates. Cricket on mute with the hottest 100 turned up is bliss.

 

[triplejdude]

Big pool party on Saturday with the Hottest 100 and plenty of Export to drink. My favourite day of the year.

 

[HappyChappy35]

Just a BBQ and some drinks with mates for me.

Although I don't get involved in the patriotic stuff, I don't have a problem with those who do so.

 

[Caesar]

The Australia Day Regatta on Sydney Harbour is a lot of fun, mostly because it is more of a festival-on-the-water than a display of nationalism. All the sailing clubs participate in massive interclub races, the RAN provides the flagship, all the harbour ferries get decorated and participate in the annual Ferry Race, there's a Tall Ships Parade, the RAAF does a flyover, there's an artillery display on Bennelong Point, and the regatta committee gives a prize to the best decorated vessel. Almost 700 boats participated last year.

These days my boat is usually racing but when I was a kid we used to go out early on dad's boat, chuck the pick over the side in Farm Cove near the Man O'War Steps, and just sit there all day - eating, drinking, reading and watching the festivities. There were always activities for kids on nearby in the Botanic Gardens. Was a great experience, probably my favourite day of the year. Highly recommend wandering down to Circular Quay and checking it out if you're ever in Sydney on Australia Day.

 

[davo99]

Bbq, Beers, mates,cricket, pool is where its at also triple j Hottest 100

 

[Poseidon]

Starting a petition to introduce sharia law.
Aussie aussie aussie!

 

[JuddsABlue]

Try to avoid the hot 100 that EVERYBODY just has to talk about all ****ing day

Nothing special really, Australia day eve has always been a bigger night for me but I dont think I'll be doing anything for this one

 

[Sydney Bloods]

Usually work through aus day or drink or both.

 

[mantis]

I want to take a piss on the australian flags that are being displayed all over the place

I prefer to light them up, especially the ones being worn by bogans.

 

[rayven]

 

[JUBJUB]

Couldn't give a fat rats tossbag about Aus Day

 

[TheOz]

Would be better if Australia day was actually on the date that Australia became a country rather than the date when New South Wales became a British colony (being a Victorian, I couldn't give two shits about NSW or the British Empire). The date of Federation (or the day after due to New Years Day) would be more encompassing of all Australians and less offensive towards indigenous peoples.

 

[Scotland]

Also it's a little embarrassing given it's historical roots only really recognising European settlement.

I find this attitude tiresome, like it's trendy to hate on Australia and the national day. Cultural cringe, if you will. I find face paint, plastic flags and free fake tattoos in the newspaper pretty tacky and think we'd be better off without the US-style 'in your face other countries, yeah!' attitude, but plenty of people need a history lesson.

I find it humorous that 99% of people who hate on Australia Day for 'only recognising European settlement' would not be here if not for European settlement. Australia started life as a British colony. Yep, it did. I said it. The date recognises the beginning of what is now called Australia. You could pick any date earlier than that if you like but given the Gregorian calendar is a European imposition on the traditional inhabitants anyway it would be pretty meaningless. I've heard people suggest ANZAC Day should replace Australia Day. OK, so we can't use the day the first fleet landed in NSW, but we can use a date that symbolises military involvement of the the nation established from the landing of the first fleet? Right...

The day is about celebrating Australia. In the last 225 years we've got plenty of things wrong. We've also got plenty of things right. The day is about recognising the birth and growth of a nation over that time. Yep, the land was here before the British. Yep, there were inhabitants here before the settlers. The same can be said for just about every society that ever existed in the history of the Earth. The reality is the modern society we live in has began in 1788. People can jump on their moral high horse all they want, but history isn't going to change.

As for me I'll go along with the cheesy 'celebrate what's great' slogan and use the day to have a BBQ with mates and a few beers. Seems a 'great' way to celebrate a warm Summer day off to me...

 

[Scotland]

Would be better if Australia day was actually on the date that Australia became a country rather than the date when New South Wales became a British colony (being a Victorian, I couldn't give two shits about NSW or the British Empire). The date of Federation (or the day after due to New Years Day) would be more encompassing of all Australians and less offensive towards indigenous peoples.

How is that less offensive?

1788 - white people turn up and start their first colony
1901 - white people decide to formalise their colonies into a nation

No date is 'encompassing of all Australians' because you'll always get someone who feels the need to be offended about something.