Aussie, Aussie...Day?

In the UK, banks are closed on Sundays and depending on the bank and/or branch, Saturdays as well. These, however, are not known as bank holidays. Bank, aka statutory holidays are days were normal business does not practice, and where more workers will be compensated based standard wages - New Years, Christmas, Good Friday, Easter - to name a few… In the United Kingdom, there are currently eight.

Recently, there has been a call by the many union leaders for an increase in the number of British bank holidays, since they currently receive far fewer than the European average of 10.8 and furthermore even fewer than Spain and Portugal, who lead the European pack with 14. According to the Trade Union Congress, British people are losing out and are therefore calling for a minimum increase of three days per year.





Each year, on January 26, Australians commemorate the landing of the First Fleet in Sydney Cove in the year 1788. This week’s English Cultural topic is:

Australia Day

Located in the Pacific Ocean, Australia is a constitutional monarchy composed of 6 states and is member of the British Commonwealth, approximately the same size as the continental United States. Australia is home to just over 20 million people, an estimated 40 million kangaroos, 101 million sheep, 27 million cattle, and over 10 thousand beaches. It is the world’s largest beef exporter, has the world’s longest fence and the only nation in the world where you can find marsupials in their own natural habitat. But if all these facts are true, why would you Australians ever want to leave? But on the contrary! It would almost seem that these descendants of 17th and 18th century British criminals just have that knack for travel and are bread into curiosity.

Though Australia day is not a British bank holiday, it would seem that only the English, or rather, the Aussies in England, actually make a big deal about it. After talking to real Australians (but obvious ex-pats) about what they had done for Australia day in past years (living at home), the most overwhelming response was “nothing.”

So, each year, Australians in London flock in hoards to the number of Aussie bars scattered throughout the city. The best parties, allegedly, are at the Walkabout, a popular chain where Australian people can hang out with other Australian people and can talk about Australian things and dance to Australian music like ACDC, Men at Work, or worst comes to worse, INXS. For us, the walkabout in Angel was pretty lame – apparently it was much better on Shaftsbury Avenue or Hammersmith. At the moment, so I hear, the biggest song in Australian bars is one called Rainbow Stylin by a group called Royksopp. We also heard it at our Walkabout.

Strangely enough, because of the time difference, by the time the London-Aussies actually get around to celebrating, a true Australia day will actually be over. I celebrated with my flatmates and Shayan, who was in London for the weekend, direct from Canada. In the spirit of the day (and only the second time since being in London) I wore my cowboy hat, like a good western Canadian would. The queuing for the bar was the highlight of the night and as WE finally got in, everyone ELSE left – but clearing a room HAS always been my forte. I think most Australians in England had a pretty good night.

Since the real Australians don’t really make a big deal of it, maybe the British should adopt this Australian holiday as their own. Alright, that’s silly. But maybe we can just get the Brits some more days off…