# Happy Australia Day **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 26, 2005, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671 "2005-01-26T00:44:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/1 "2005-01-26T00:44:20Z")
…to all of the Aussie dopers. I hope you’re having a great holiday. It’s quite a nice day here in Sydney (25º with a light breeze) and I’m off in a few minutes’ time to the local citizenship ceremony to see some friends of mine (originally from South Africa) become dinky-di Australians. Then it’s back to their place for a BBQ. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/2 "2005-01-26T02:19:56Z")
Cheers mate. I’m spending the day babysitting, so no beer and burnt sausages for me, unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_You_Big_Red_Fire_Engine)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/3 "2005-01-26T02:27:56Z")
It’s raining in Brissie. ☹ Happy Australia Day. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/4 "2005-01-26T09:13:39Z")
I’ve been up to Katoomba and Blackheath for the day. No traffic, no heat, ate light and healthily and friendly mountain people everywhere. Happy Australia Day! ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/5 "2005-01-26T09:23:59Z")
Yeah, well thanks a bloody lot you lot. 😛 It seems that Melbourne got all the hot stuff for today, with no respite in sight (a southerly change was predicted, but has fizzled out somewhere down south). It’s too bloody hot. Got to around 35 today and is going to remain in the high 20’s o’night as well with 37 tomorrow and Friday to boot. Argghhhhhhhhhhhh. Apart from whingeing though, I spent the day a) swimming, b) eating good tucker, c)watching the Molik/Davenport match on the telly (that was a grouse match) and now darting between here and the Teev waiting for Hewitt to make a complete idjit of himself. Hope the arrogant little turd loses. Yeah…Happy Australia Day. What’s it for again?? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/6 "2005-01-26T09:42:58Z")
Happy Australia day neighbours. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![robinc308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@robinc308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinc308)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/7 "2005-01-26T10:39:23Z")
It’s nearly 10pm and still stinking hot here in Melbourne - I’m waiting for that cool change… Still, all the washing dried in a flash. I spent the day pottering around the house - I fixed one part of the sprinkler system, and I was going to install tap timers, but I didn’t get all the bits and my car doesn’t have air conditioning, so I figured I’d leave it to another day. I tried bonding with my fish, but they still hate me. I watched the cricket and the tennis (and probably drove my housemate mad flicking channels). Oh, and I spent all morning doing stuff for work. On a public holiday. Which sucks. I was going togo to a barbie tonight, but I’m pretty buggered and I have to work tomorrow, so I piked. But I didn’t eat any lambchops today. ---
**Author:** ![robinc308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@robinc308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinc308)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/8 "2005-01-26T10:41:02Z")
Happy Straya day to youse all. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/9 "2005-01-26T10:43:13Z")
> [@robinc308](#): > > But I didn’t eat any lambchops today. OMG. :eek: What would Sam say about YOU then **robin**. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Headspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8491ac/32.png) [@Headspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headspace)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/10 "2005-01-26T11:31:35Z")
Happy Australia Day felllow Aussies Lleyton’s struggling in the 5th, no lambchops but no tofu sasages either so not sure if Sam needs to point me to the airport, we beat the Windies and the cool change just hit Melbourne so finally stopped sweating. All in all not a bloody bad day ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/11 "2005-01-26T13:32:16Z")
Since I am in a hopeless timewarp, I’m not sure if it’s still Australia Day or not, but to all our Aussie Dopers: **HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!!!** What do y’all do to celebrate? I know here in the US we celebrate Independence Day (Fourth of July) consuming beer, burning hot dogs and burgers on the grill, eating watermelon and attempting to maim ourselves by shooting off fireworks. What are your traditions? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/12 "2005-01-26T14:02:10Z")
Happy Australia Day. Wish I had Hewitt’s heart - the guy is unstoppable, kill him and he would win in the fifth. Triple J’s hottest 100 was the absolute worst in history. ---
**Author:** ![WilhelmGefallen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9f8e36/32.png) [@WilhelmGefallen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WilhelmGefallen)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/13 "2005-01-26T21:55:16Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > Happy Australia Day. Wish I had Hewitt’s heart - the guy is unstoppable, kill him and he would win in the fifth. Triple J’s hottest 100 was the absolute worst in history. You should’ve been listening to the MMM Top 2005 then. I mean it was like they stole my IPod. As for my Oz Day, I was playing WOW all day (just because I forgot breakfast, lunch and almost dinner and didnt get anything to drink for 5 hours does not mean Im addicted) ---
**Author:** ![robinc308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@robinc308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinc308)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2005, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/14 "2005-01-26T23:47:42Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > OMG. :eek: > > What would Sam say about YOU then **robin**. 😃 I know. I feel a failure as an Australian. But then I didn’t eat any tofu sausages. I did, however, have a salad for dinner. :eek: Someone care to spot me for the fare to the airport? 😃 Is it redeeming that I have a leg of lamb in the freezer? > [@swampbear](#): > > What do y’all do to celebrate? I know here in the US we celebrate Independence Day (Fourth of July) consuming beer, burning hot dogs and burgers on the grill, eating watermelon and attempting to maim ourselves by shooting off fireworks. > > What are your traditions? Traditions? Um, don’t really have any for Australia Day. It’s a day off. It’s summer. Alcohol and BBQs inevitably ensue. I think they do fireworks in the city, but I’ve never bothered to go. The Australian open is on, there’s usually a ODI cricket match on, so sport on telly usually happens too… There are some that are pushing for ANZAC day to become the new national holiday (i.e. move AUstralia day) because Australia day is the day that Captain Cook came to the country and so for the aboriginal population it isn’t a day to celebrate so much. But I’m dead against combining it with ANZAC day - we have few enough public holidays - they can move the date if they like (there’s a long gap between Queens birthday and cup day), but I don’t want to lose one of my precious holidays. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/15 "2005-01-27T00:07:39Z")
I celebrated my first Australia Day yesterday! We went to the beach, then headed down to our little town center for ice cream and people-watching. They were having a big festival thing down there with bands, stuff for the kids, tables where they were selling stuff, and things like an wood-chopping contest and a pie-eating contest (at least I think they were pies). They were having fireworks when it got dark, but we headed home and watched cricket on tv. My poor husband had to eat chili for dinner, because I have no idea how to cook lamb. He survived, though, and we had more ice cream for dessert! We also listened to the Triple J countdown because my husband had money riding on it - is there nothing that can’t be bet on in Australia?? To an American, it seemed pretty much along the lines of Labor Day in the U.S. It definitely felt like and end-of-summer celebration, since the kids go back to school next week (I think?) and the weather is very slowly starting to feel like it does in September where I’m from (mid-Atlantic). I’m starting to get that warm, cozy feeling I get when I know that fall is on its way and Christmas is right around the corner…oh, that’s right, nevermind 😉 . ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/16 "2005-01-27T00:15:19Z")
> [@robinc308](#): > > There are some that are pushing for ANZAC day to become the new national holiday (i.e. move AUstralia day) because Australia day is the day that Captain Cook came to the country and so for the aboriginal population it isn’t a day to celebrate so much. Actually, Captain Cook came ashore at Botany Bay on 29 April 1770. Australia Day commemorates the landing of the First Fleet, under Captain Arthur Phillip, at Port Jackson on 26 January 1788. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/17 "2005-01-27T00:16:36Z")
Yes, I don’t think Australia Day can be equated with the Fourth of July. Our patriotism is arguably more muted anyway, but it is split over two days: Australia Day and Anzac Day (which we share with New Zealand). Also, there are sections of the community opposed to celebrating Australia Day. Anzac Day is the more serious and moving of the two, and means more to many people. Australia Day, occuring in summer and during school holidays (and annual holidays for many adults), tends only to have pomp and ceremony for the politicians. They make their speeches and so forth, but the rest of us view the day as a bit of a last fling at the summertime Christma/New Year “Silly Season”, so as others have mentioned it is a casual day of beer, bbq, and televised sport. There is little or no hand-on-the-heart, saluting the flag stuff. There might be a fighter plane fly-past in the major cities, or a sailing ship appearing in the harbour if that’s your thing, but most of us will be in a suburban backyard with the cricket on the radio. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/18 "2005-01-27T00:23:27Z")
I think, **TLD** , that the Fourth is not quite as pomp-and-circumstance, hand-on-the-heart patriotism for most people in the U.S. as you may think. Yeah, they play patriotic songs during the fireworks and there’s certainly a lot of flag-waving, but for the most part, for most people, celebrating the holiday consists of drinking a shitload of beer, eating burgers, and playing in the pool (or the sprinkler, for those of us without pools). I do think, though, that Australia Day is more analagous to Labor Day because of the summer wind-down vibe that’s happening. It’s the last hurrah, whereas 4th of July is the mid-summer party - more like Christmas Day was here. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_You_Big_Red_Fire_Engine)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/19 "2005-01-27T00:53:48Z")
I spent the night with **SilentGoldfish** and **BurntSugar** ---
**Author:** ![robinc308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@robinc308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinc308)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671/20 "2005-01-27T01:15:20Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > Actually, Captain Cook came ashore at Botany Bay on 29 April 1770. Australia Day commemorates the landing of the First Fleet, under Captain Arthur Phillip, at Port Jackson on 26 January 1788. Details, details. It’s been 17 years since I did that stuff in school - you can’t expect me to remember everything 😃 All I know is that it was some old guy in a big boat with a bunch of convicts… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-australia-day/286671.md?page=2)