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?
