SEPTEMBER 21 Spring Equinox <This is March 20 in the Western Hemisphere> Australia seems to stand alone globally in its designations of the four seasons. All other traditions have, for example, Spring beginning on the vernal equinox, in Australia this is September 21. So why does our spring nominally begin on September 1? This shift […]
FESTIVALS: March
Celebrations and Festivals: Autumn Equinox
MARCH 21 Autumn Equinox Harvest Festival <This is September 23 in the Western Hemisphere> When I was a young man, my only associations of Homebush were of riding in a train to work, and passing lines of filthy, barred rail cars stuffed with sheep; the forlorn survivors trampling the dead. The smell was equally offensive, […]
Celebrations and Festivals: International Women’s Day: March 8
MARCH 8 International Women’s Day Having a specific celebration of women is even more unlikely than for seniors or rubbish collection. However, as the fair sex has been an oppressed majority for millennia, it seems only “fair” to recognize the value of women in society in general and their increasing individual contributions to all fields […]
Celebrations and Festivals: Seniors Week: First Week in March
FIRST WEEK IN MARCH Seniors’ Week Again, celebrating such an event as getting old might seem odd; but as the demographic gradually changes in the West from a young to an aged dominance, heed must be taken of the special place society’s· Elders have in our community. As the saying goes: the· death of an […]
Celebrations and Festivals: SeaWeek Australia: First Sunday in March
FIRST SUNDAY WEEK IN MARCH Seaweek Australia This event coincides with Clean Up Australia (the World!) but focuses exclusively on the marine environment. Each year it takes a different focus; for instance, Seaweek 2012 was the attack on marine debris. It is conducted under the auspices of MESA, the Marine Education Society of Australia. What […]
Celebrations and Festivals: Clean Up Australia Day: First Sunday in March
FIRST SUNDAY IN MARCH Clean Up Australia Day Picking up other people’s rubbish might not seem celebratory or festive; but the high-spirited atmosphere pervading the voluntary groups who come out each Clean Up Australia Day on the first Sunday in March certainly is. I have been involved in this priceless initiative for many years and […]