Foreign Fridays Fact: Australia

Submitted by Foreign Students on Fri 27/01/12

As part of Foreign Fridays, we explore a different country each week through its most unusual, amusing and odd facts. If you want your country to appear, then simply get in contact with us either in the comments below or through Facebook or Twitter.

This week it is the turn of Australia:

Citizenship Ceremonies are a popular tradition on
Australia Day. On that single day in 2011, a massive
13,000 people took Australian Citizenship.

Yesterday was Australia Day, when Australians have an excuse to bring out the BBQ, crack open some beers and celebrate their history. Every year on the 26th January Australians remember when the first fleet of British ships first landed in 1788. These days, it is a national holiday, and there are huge celebrations throughout the country, with festivals and concerts held in almost every community. An Australian of the Year is even crowned, with The King's Speech actor Geoffrey Rush gaining the award for 2012.

One of the more unusual celebrations held on Australia Day is the Citizenship Ceremony. People join together to pledge themselves to Australia and gain Australian citizenship. Indeed, on 26th January last year, 2011, there were more than 300 Citizenship Ceremonies, with 13,000 people from 143 countries taking Australian Citizenship. It may seem weird, but what better way is there to celebrate your country than by others admitting they want to become part of it.

As with almost everything Australian, there is generally a unique relaxed and happy atmosphere to Australia Day, with people simply enjoying their life and culture.

G'day mate!

You can see all the previous Foreign Friday blog posts here and the main Foreign Fridays page here.