Commonwealth Day, this year on March 8, is a yearly moveable holiday that falls regularly on the second Monday in March. The day is marked with a service gone to by the British royal family at Westminster Abbey, and much celebration takes place globally in Commonwealth states!

 

HISTORY OF COMMONWEALTH DAY

Commonwealth Day today is a well-established vacation commemorated by an approximated 2 billion individuals worldwide, it wasn’t constantly called Commonwealth Day, and it had a smaller start. It was initially called “Empire Day,” which was developed in 1902 to honor Queen Victoria. After Queen Victoria passed away the year prior to, the idea was presented to establish a vacation that honored England, the unity in between nations of the Commonwealth, and its ideals of justice, freedom, and tolerance.

Empire Day actually wasn’t formally recognized till 1916, after having been celebrated unofficially in Canada for 14 years. It took another 10 years for it to really reach a level of appeal– in 1925, an Empire Day Thanksgiving celebration at Wembley Arena drew around 90,000 in attendance.

In 1958, the then-Prime Minister, Harold MacMillan, rebranded Empire Day as Commonwealth Day. This is due to the fact that all of the Commonwealth shares history, legal systems, culture, and more. In 1973, the Royal Commonwealth Society proposed the day be changed, and the 2nd Monday in March was chosen by the Commonwealth Secretariat as the observance day.

In today’s postcolonial world, there is much dispute over the morality of the Commonwealth. While some nations still discover it a respectable and essential piece of history, and others even still determine the Queen of England as their emperor, increasingly more discourse is emerging on whether or not it is a troublesome holiday. Many countries in the Commonwealth were, at one time or another, prevented from getting independence, and some discover it a reminder of harsh colonization.

A number of nations in the Commonwealth– though significantly not Britain– commemorate Commonwealth Day as a public holiday. Many tune in on Commonwealth Day to view the service at Westminster Abbey, hear the Queen’s address and feel a terrific sense of pride in the historical alliance that is the Commonwealth.

COMMONWEALTH DAY TIMELINE

March 15, 2006
Commonwealth Games in Australia

The Commonwealth Games, which can be compared to the Olympics, are athletic competitions in between the Commonwealth that occur every 4 years. In 2006, Queen Elizabeth II started the Australian video games by providing her annual Commonwealth Address from Australia.

1958
The First Commonwealth Day

Prime Minister Harold MacMillan revealed that Empire Day would happen referred to as Commonwealth Day.

1925
Empire Day Grows in Appeal

After an Empire Day Thanksgiving service held at Wembley Arena attracted 90,000 individuals, the day began to actually remove in popularity.

1916
Empire Day Recognized

It had actually been celebrated informally because 1902, Empire Day – the precursor to Commonwealth Day – was not officially acknowledged as a holiday till 1916.

1902
Empire Day Formality Queen Victoria and England

To honor Queen Victoria after her death in 1901, patriotic Empire Day was developed the next year on her birthday, May 24.

COMMONWEALTH DAY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the function of Commonwealth Day?

In the last few years, there has been a shift away from commemorating a single day towards commemorating a complete week, with Commonwealth Day at its focus and very first day. The objective is to commemorate the unity, diversity and links of the modern Commonwealth and to foster a higher understanding of the Commonwealth’s achievements and function.

What is British Commonwealth Day?

The day marks Commonwealth Day in more than 50 nations around the globe. Once known as Empire Day, it is pictured as an event of the cultural exchange and shared worths of previous Empire states. Of course, today the idea of celebrating Britain’s colonial past is a topic of some argument.

Who is the head of Commonwealth countries?

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is Head of the Commonwealth. Her role is an essential symbolic one.

HOW TO OBSERVE COMMONWEALTH DAY

Watch the Westminster Abbey service

Commonwealth Day is notoriously celebrated by a sermon at Westminster Abbey attended by the Queen of England. It’s telecasted, and followed by an address by the Queen to the different states, as she is the Head of the Commonwealth.

Discover its history

Commonwealth Day is of massive historical value to a significant sector of the worldwide population. Nevertheless, if you’re just hearing of it, it deserves reading up on! Check out its history as Empire Day, and understand just why so many countries are proud to be included in such an alliance.

Attend a street celebration or parade

There are Commonwealth festivities worldwide, so as long as it’s safe where you are, head out and find a location to celebrate! Lots of celebrate by consuming great food, partying, and raising flags to reveal their pride.

5 ENJOYABLE TRUTHS ABOUT COMMONWEALTH DAY

Many are no longer in devoted to the queen

The Commonwealth of countries consists of 53 countries, though only 16 still acknowledge the British Queen as their queen.

It’s commemorated by a substantial part of the world

Almost 1/3 of the world celebrates Commonwealth Day – that’s around 2 billion people.

It’s not a public vacation all over

It honors the British Empire and all the states it included, it’s actually not a British public holiday! Other states of the Commonwealth, like Gibraltar, acknowledge it.

Some are now facing its ties to colonialism

Today, many are rethinking Britain’s history of manifest destiny and imperialism, and a new reality of the Commonwealth states and Commonwealth Day is progressively being comprehended. There is a present push towards the moral numeration of the vacation.

The Commonwealth has a huge GDP

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Commonwealth tops that of even the European Union (EU) – and is just expected to grow.

WHY COMMONWEALTH DAY IS VERY IMPORTANT

It’s an important historic day

Originally, Commonwealth Day was born from Empire Day, which honored the life and death of Queen Victoria in 1901. While this is a great piece of history, Commonwealth Day is much more historically crucial due to the fact that it honors the historical peace within the Commonwealth, and all the typical excellent they have actually achieved in partnership.

It’s an opportunity to show pride for the Commonwealth

Though not all the states of the Commonwealth have actually made Commonwealth Day a public holiday or are even still devoted to the queen, numerous are proud to have been included in such an alliance, and proudly display their history on this day.

It’s entertaining

Every year, billions of people celebrate Commonwealth Day with festivities and excellent food. On top of that, lots of entertainment personalities and stars help to speak in honor of Commonwealth Day, or perhaps at the Commonwealth Day service. While the day is steeped in tradition and history, it’s still known to be very amusing.

 

Calendar date of the event Commonwealth Day every year? Calendar Commonwealth Day from now to 2030 is the date?

When is...?	Date	Day of Week	Days away
Commonwealth Day 2023	Day 8 Month 3 Year 2023	Wednesday	Happen in 0 days
Commonwealth Day 2024	Day 8 Month 3 Year 2024	Friday	Happen in 0 days
Commonwealth Day 2025	Day 8 Month 3 Year 2025	Saturday	Happen in 318 days
Commonwealth Day 2026	Day 8 Month 3 Year 2026	Sunday	Happen in 683 days
Commonwealth Day 2027	Day 8 Month 3 Year 2027	Monday	Happen in 1048 days
Commonwealth Day 2028	Day 8 Month 3 Year 2028	Wednesday	Happen in 1414 days
Commonwealth Day 2029	Day 8 Month 3 Year 2029	Thursday	Happen in 1779 days
Commonwealth Day 2030	Day 8 Month 3 Year 2030	Friday	Happen in 2144 days