Australia Day 26 January: Other countries with controversial national days
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key points:
- Australia’s national day on January 26 is subject to controversy over what the birthday represents.
- While some Australians are proud of the national day, First Nations people have rallied against the celebration.
- From New Zealand to the United States, many countries around the world balance controversy with pride in their national days.
A growing indigenous-led movement has gathered momentum to change the date from January 26, while activist groups including Amnesty Australia have called for Australia Day to be scrapped altogether.
Here’s a look at how other countries celebrate their national days, what these holidays do and the controversies surrounding some other public celebrations.
What is the purpose of National Day?
Most countries around the world have an official national day, often celebrating a revolution or independence anniversary, but their commemorations vary according to their history, customs and culture.
“For national holidays to be successful, they depend on consensus among those who are citizens, that the date chosen, and what is celebrated on that date, best represents that. What is our nation and what was hoped for,” she used to say.
So, what happens when the national day begins to be weaned from consensus?
Lessons from New Zealand’s Waitangi Day
New Zealand’s national day, Waitangi Day, is celebrated on February 6 each year.
A haka is performed on Te Tii Beach for traditional waka who paddle down the Waitangi River on Waitangi Day. Source: AAP / David Rowland
The date marks the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi between the British Crown and Maori chiefs on 6 February 1840.
Professor O’Sullivan said while the balance between celebration and protest could vary from year to year, depending on how Māori people felt about the government’s policy priorities of the day, Waitangi Day was Australia Day. is clearly different from
While Waitangi Day “marks inclusion”, Professor O’Sullivan said Australia Day was seen as an event that marked a perceived and conscious Indigenous exclusion.
United States: July 4th
As in Australia, Native American populations have expressed concern about how a day celebrating independence glosses over colonial rule and the struggle that followed for independence.
People hold parades to commemorate the Fourth of July holiday in the United States. Source: Getty / Daniel Knighton
Parallels can be drawn between Australia’s national day and the US, but Dr Owen said we had a “quite unique story” compared to other countries around the world.
While America celebrates Independence Day, Australia celebrates the establishment of a penal colony.
Spain: Fiesta National
For example, in Venezuela, the day is known as the Day of Indigenous Resistance, in Bolivia it is celebrated as Decolonization Day, and in Mexico as the Day of the Multicultural Nation.
Indigenous Venezuelan women take part in a march commemorating Indigenous Resistance Day in Caracas. Source: AFP, Getty / Federico Parra
In America, the second Monday of October is celebrated as Columbus Day. But Native American populations have been protesting the monument since the 1970s, and many states now celebrate it. Also, or rather, Columbus Day on this date.
National Day of the People’s Republic of China
Celebrations are underway in mainland China for what is described as ‘Golden Week’, where citizens enjoy a seven-day public holiday. Macau gets two days off while Hong Kong has one.
Protesters are met by riot police as they march in Hong Kong on the morning of China’s National Day on October 1, 2019. Source: Getty / Sopa Images
In recent years, Chinese dissidents and allies critical of the Chinese Communist Party in Hong Kong and around the world have used the day to protest against the state party.
In 2020, Hong Kong’s National Security Law came into effect and local police have banned any demonstrations on October 1.
