Day off?
I think most of us are looking forward to a day off work on Monday, 11 June 2007, unless we live in Western Australia when the Queen’s birthday will be celebrated on Monday, 1 October 2007. For most of us the Queen’s birthday signals winter and the opening of the ski season. (Perhaps there will even be snow there this year!) Does the Queen’s birthday also mean more to us?
Real birthday
When was Queen Elizabeth really born? That was on 21 April 1926 at 2.40am at her grandparents’ house in London. Although most Commonwealth countries celebrate her birthday, no country appears to use her real birthday. England celebrates in June, but the day changes. They have the Trooping the Colours, the Queen's Birthday Parade, so a nice summer day in June is preferable to a cold spring day for this occasion.
Canada celebrates her birthday on Victoria Day, but wikipedia says not many Canadians realise that it is a celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s birthday as well as Queen Victoria’s. Other countries that have celebrations include Fiji, where she is no longer head of state. However, Hong Kong gave up their holiday when they were handed over to China.
Bonfires?
So why do we celebrate with bonfires in Australia? Well this started with her ancestor, King George 111, whose birthday was celebrated on 4 June with a celebration and pardoning of convicts. The day ended in bonfires as they had lots of wood to burn.
In Australia, I think we enjoy our fireworks as much as our bonfires. I have great memories of the Yass Public bonfires and fireworks nights. We’ve also had smaller family celebrations around big fires with small fireworks, and then there’s the showground. Wasn’t that great last year?
How much to you know?
Check your knowledge about the Queen. The following questions came from the 80 facts about the Queen on the royal government site below. This site was set up for her 80th birthday. The answers can be found on that site or on our blogspot.
1. Over the reign, Her Majesty has given regular Tuesday evening audiences to how many British Prime Ministers?
2. Queen Elizabeth II is the (25th, 35th, 40th, 45th) monarch since William the Conqueror obtained the crown of England?
3. How many times has the Queen visited Australia?
4. Can the Queen drive a car?
5. Besides Corgis, what other dogs does the Queen breed?
6. True or False: The Queen has visited the sets of a number of popular British soap operas including Coronation Street and East Enders
How will you spend the day?
So what will you do? Think about the Queen and what she means to you and to our country, spend time with the family, go to the bonfire, or you could always attend the Queen's High Tea Party at Australia Zoo or perhaps you will be awarded an Order of Australia! Whatever you do, enjoy it!
http://webweedswisdom.blogspot.com/
http://www.statusquo.org/aru_html/html/birthday.html
http://www.australiazoo.com/visit-us/calendar/?event=1&item=33
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen's_Official_Birthday
http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page4823.asp
Answers
1.10
2. 40th
3. 15 times Her Majesty most recently visited Australia in March 2006 to open the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
4. Yes, The Queen learnt to drive in 1945 when she joined the Army.
5. dorgis,Labradors and Cocker Spaniels
6. True
