Australia Day

Sadly, the weather has put a damper on Australia Day. With torrential rain all week, the Queensland government canceled all official celebrations. We had been planning on spending the day at the beach with some friends. With the event canceled, two of us (guess which?!) went to a rugby league club with the same friends while others of us sat in front of computers.

The national anthem was sung, and we talked about how this is recited once a week at schools in Australia during assembly. I commented that Norwegians were also very patriotic, and that their national song is quite beautiful and quintessentially Norwegian (Ja, vi elsker which means, Yes, we love (this country...)). Our friend, who is German, said there is little patriotism in Germany (since the war) and the Brits around the table agreed that the English did not express their patriotism much for fear of offending recent immigrants. I tried to remember how patriotic the US is, and was surprised to not really know if the Pledge of Allegiance is still said every day in US schools. I remember it well from my own childhood.

I am quite sentimental and I love God Save the Queen, the Star-Spangled Banner, and Ja vi Elsker. I am even moved by the Italian national anthem even though I have no idea what it means. But, truthfully, I prefer Rule Britannia, This Land is Your Land, Waltzing Matilda and Norge i roedt, hvitt og blaatt. At dinner, my daughter said she wasn't sure if she should recite the Australian national anthem during assembly because she was worried it might offend Norway. It had never occurred to me that she would question this, and I am glad she did.

I answered that there is nothing wrong with singing along if you believe what you are singing. You can feel at home in one country even though you are a citizen of another. I have done so my entire life.

So, Happy Australia Day, despite the weather.
In case you thought Waltzing Matilda really was the national anthem, here are the lyrics to "Advance Australia Fair."


Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;

Our land abounds in nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We’ll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing,

Advance Australia Fair.