Today is 21 March – Harmony Day!
Never heard of it? You’re probably not alone. Harmony Day is an Australian initiative which began in 1999, to celebrate our culturally diverse society. The message of Harmony Day is Everyone Belongs, and in 2013 the theme is: Many Stories – One Australia. You can find out more on the Harmony Day website.
I haven’t been able to locate any Harmony Day events happening here in Redlands this year (although I know they’ve been held in the past). So I thought I’d share some ideas on how you can commemorate it in your own way or with your children …
Have your own Harmony Day
- Wear orange! Orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Day. Australians are encouraged to wear orange clothing and/or the distinctive orange ribbon to show their support for cultural diversity and an inclusive Australia. This is not going to be easy for me as I don’t have much orange in my wardrobe, as I’ve shared in this post. So I think I’ll settle for wearing an orange ribbon pinned to my shirt.
- Take a few moments to write a list of all the countries that your family and friends were born in or their families originated from. My ancestry can be traced back mainly to England and Germany; my husband’s from Malta and Italy. I wonder if any of our great-great-greats would be rolling over in their grave at the thought of our marriage? 😉 I have friends who come from or whose ancestors were born in: New Zealand, South Africa, the UK; Hungary; Namibia; the Netherlands; Greece; France; Germany; Egypt; and China; to name just a few.
- Eat or prepare food from other countries. So much of our modern Aussie cuisine originated in other countries. From the humble spaghetti of Italy to the current enthusiasm for Japanese sushi, good ol’ Irish stew to a piping hot hungarian goulash.
- Read a biography or autobiography of somebody from another culture.
Have you ever heard of Harmony Day before? Will you be celebrating it, and if so – how?
I have no heard of Harmony Day before this post! Why isn’t it publicized more? Very interesting to read that your husband’s ancestry can be traced back to Malta – I was born there! Great post – will keep an eye out for celebrations in Melb xx
Yes, his paternal grandparents were born there. Would love to visit one day 🙂
Ahh will have to go change my shirt 😉 and no, i haven’t heard of harmony day, thanks for enlightening me! #TUST
Glad to be spreading the news!
No orange clothing in my wardrobe but I am tossing up between stirfry and pasta for dinner! Thanks for this post, such a lovely idea and so relevent living in Australia. #tust
I think it would be fun to celebrate if you had littlies especially.
My eldest is celebrating it at preschool today. He wore an orange shirt and the preschool had orange balloons, orange nailpolish, decorating biscuits with orange icing and I think there is a kids book on harmony day floating around there aswell!!
Nice to know that they are teaching about it at preschools!
Lots of school celebrate harmony day – however not often on the same day. I like the idea of sharing food and customs with others. Food often can break down many barriers.
Annaleis – Blogs and PR Team Member
PS Thanks for kind words of encouragement on the blog today 🙂
Yes food is indeed a great barrier breaker. Hmmm that sounds like a good title for a post!
Each school I have worked at celebrates Harmony Day. One of the best celebrations is were each class selects a country and cooks a dish from that country to have at a shared lunch.
Thanks for linking in today.
I am sure I have heard of harmony day before, but with my memory it takes someone else to remind me! I will have to mark it down for next year 🙂 My family is made up of lots of different cultures I am proud of, Siberian, Russian, Scottish, Spanish, Maori and Irish. Could you imagine the spread if we made something from every cuisine for dinner!! I wouldn’t miss it for the world!
A girlfriend at the office said “Happy Harmony Day” and everyone went “Huh? Happy what?” But we were too busy to investigate and I don’t think she was impressed by our lack of knowledge hehe.
Thanks for shedding some light on it.
Visiting through Blogs and PR.
LOL well I guess it is a fairly new “day”.