SO what are you doing for Australia Day? Fortunately, coming so soon after Christmas and New Year, the celebrations can get away with being a lot more relaxed, which is just as well.
Like, who really wants to deal with another bout of feverish prep when they’ve only just recovered from the last two?
Hence the casual attire, a beach or a backyard barbie, pavlovas, lamingtons and no fuss. It also means you don’t have to have a big gathering either, unless you really want one.
But I think that by the time Australia Day comes around, many of us are over the big gatherings for a while and are happy to just kick back and let the day take its course.
Which is not such a bad idea. No having to play perfect host in a big way, no having to play referee with relies who are polar opposites. No frantic food shopping beforehand either. It’s a barbecue, so some meat and salads are the order of the day with something for dessert after. No biggie.
A Sydney-based mate of mine, who lives alone, will wake on Australia Day and think “Okay, so I’m still alive. Things are good. That’s great,” and then spend the day with a simple meal, coffee and a book.
Being vegetarian for most of his life, a barbecue probably wouldn’t work for him, and he prefers his own company anyway. At the end of it, he considers his version of how to spend our national day well spent. Another makes it an immediate family only day, namely her, her hubby and their children. Yes, they have a barbecue lunch and a pav for dessert, but they don’t have anyone else around.
“Having already done two huge celebrations, I just don’t think I’m up for a third,” she said, and meant it. I mean, she’s even bought a pavlova base this year, instead of making one, and that’s a statement right there.
So what am I doing? Well, I could spend it with the kids or just touch base with them over the phone, then wander off to the beach across the road and see what the tide’s dragged in, come home, make a cuppa and then do whatever. If it’s raining, I can veg out with a book or do something creative.
Make a couple of sausage sangas perhaps, because you can’t get more Aussie than them. Oh, right, well there’s always the backyard cricket match for Aussie-ness too. Very Aussie that, but seeing as it’s only me and a balcony, I might have to give that one a miss.
So obviously, I’m not looking at making it a big event, but I can certainly celebrate it in my own way and I will be thankful that I live in Australia where I am free to celebrate our national day like that. No pressures, no dramas.
On the other hand, if there’s a do going on around here and I decide to attend, then that will also be okay. Generally though, I prefer to do my own low-key thing and that works fine for me. I don’t even need to dress up for that.
Anyway, however you choose the celebrate Australia Day 2025, do it in your way.
And have a great day.
