Celebrations all around

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Iris B

“Smile…it makes people wonder what you’re up to.”  ― Jill Shalvis, Simply Irresistible

MLK Jr Day – Well I spent almost half of Saturday figuring out what that could be. In my defence, I didn’t feel very well, because if I had, ‘Google’ would have certainly be my first thought. So, late afternoon I found out the other foxes and the hound were talking about Martin Luther King Jr. Holy moly, how hard can they make it for their foreign co-blogger. I obviously have heard about MLK, I mean who hasn’t, but to write a blog? Then I wondered whether we have something like that in Australia or Germany. Thinking thinking thinking … there’s Queen’s birthday in June. Which is kinda funny, because her actual birthday, as everyone knows, is in April. But the weather is better in June, right ? But none in Germany. Hmm.

Back to Martin Luther King and my crash course in this special day. It’s a floating holiday the third Monday in January – which for 2013 is today! Well thanks to the foxes/hound for letting me blog on this very special day! This holiday is still a bit of a newbie and has only been around since 1986 thanks to Ronald Reagan.

Australia meanwhile is preparing for Australia Day on Saturday (26th Jan!). Coming from a country where national pride was subdued until recently, the “national” day was really just a day off – 17th June until the 1990s, which then moved to 3rd October – the re-unification Day. Australia Day here is brilliant. It commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788 and the proclamation at that time of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia. And Australians know how to celebrate. People go out for concerts, local events, or the popular BBQs. There’s also the citizenship ceremonies and Australian of the year announcement. And then there’s the big fireworks at night. Busy busy busy! I like the way Australians embrace their heritage and celebrate this special day with all their heart.

So my lovelies out there, do tell me how you spend your Australia Day or MLK Jr Day ! And have a good one.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 

 

About Iris B

Iris Blobel writes warm, sexy, and sometimes witty Australian Contemporary Romance books for readers who, like herself, still strongly believe in love and Happily Ever Afters. And she knows HEAs. Her couples are hungry for life, done with the past, passionate about family, and emotionally hopeful for a future. The stories are mainly set in Australia but also in New Zealand and even the US, depending on where her travels take her. She loves nothing more than for her readers to join her on her journeys.
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14 Responses to Celebrations all around

  1. Tonette Joyce says:
    January 21, 2013 at 10:48 am

    Sound wonderful, Iris! I have yet to meet someone from Australia who was not gregarious, so I can imagine they really cut-loose at party time!
    And I can imagine it is petty much like our own Independence Day ,(” Fourth of July”), celebrations.That is a really nice break and an excuse to ‘party hearty’ here, especially since it is mid-year and so far on the calendar from ‘The Holidays”…however,I think yours may be even more well-timed, since must of us are experiencing the post-Holiday and Winter ‘blahs’.
    [Sorry about the schedule; the Powers-That-Be here are not in international mode ,I guess! Scheduler! We need to make sure Iris has a lead or option when it comes to American holidays. Iris, you came through this one; I have every confidence in you.]

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    • Iris B says:
      January 21, 2013 at 9:03 pm

      yes, Australians are very good at celebrating and having a good time!! I’m sure this year’s Australia Day will be no different – especially with the 26th falling on a Saturday, which gives us a day off on Monday 😉
      And re the schedule … I like a challenge, and it was actually quite interesting to read about your public holiday today! I like learning about other countries. Hope you’re enjoying your MLK Jr Day.

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  2. Jillian Chantal says:
    January 21, 2013 at 11:44 am

    Enjoy Australia Day when it comes!

    I’m relaxing this MLK day. Wrote a little and am planning a shooting trip with my younger son when he rises. It’s 10:44 am here and he’s not up. He went to a concert last night.

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  3. jeff7salter says:
    January 21, 2013 at 12:07 pm

    I think you did great with your ‘crash course’ on MLK Day, Iris.
    It’s sometimes difficult for Americans to realize he rest of the world is not aware of our every nuance. Ha.
    Your own national day sounds terrific — I’d love to see ‘down-under’ at a quiet time as well as a festive occasion. In fact, I may move there some day. Do you have tight immigration rules?

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    • Iris B says:
      January 21, 2013 at 9:08 pm

      Thanks …. I’ll remember the MLK Day from now on 😉 But I think it’s vice versa, how many Americans are aware of the Australia Day or the German Re-unification Day …. it’s what you live with I suppose.
      As for our immigration rules … hmmm …. tough one. Highly discussed issue here, and I’d rater bite my lip to comment publicly. Sorry …But I suppose wanting to see Down Under at a quiet time won’t happen … unless you go smack bang into the outback where there’s nobody around …. LOL … And I have a feeling you’d probably find dancing kangaroos out there. 😉

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  4. Patricia Kiyono says:
    January 21, 2013 at 8:34 pm

    I suppose asking you to blog about Martin Luther King Day would be like asking my Buddhist and Shinto cousins in Japan to write about Christmas. Every December I send them Christmas cards, and they send me New Year cards. Anyway, I’m glad you shared a little about your traditions. Hope you have a fun time on the 26th!

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    • Iris B says:
      January 21, 2013 at 9:10 pm

      Thanks for stopping by Patty. Yes, I love Australia Day, and I love spending it with my girls, who obviously learn about both countries. I try to make sure they know how lucky they are to be Australian (and half German … LOL!)

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  5. Wendy says:
    January 22, 2013 at 3:07 pm

    I love hearing about different celebrations in countries other than mine (since I’ve never left the US. Poor me!) Thanks for sharing with us. I spent MLK day reading his many inspiring quotes everyone shared on Facebook. He was a great man!

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    • Iris B says:
      January 22, 2013 at 11:57 pm

      Thanks for stopping by, Wendy! I actually talked a bit about your “MLK Day” today on air. It’s great to find out those things about other countries! Will have to check on FB as well for quotes.

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  6. Micki Gibson says:
    January 23, 2013 at 9:44 am

    Yes, your Australia Day sounds very much like our Fourth of July (Independence Day) in terms of celebrations. You’re right that MLK Day is a relative “newbie” in terms of holidays. My school day recollection is that if we’d gotten a day off in January, it was usually for Washington’s birthday (Jan. 22). I heard there were a few parades in town, but here on the gulf coast, I naturally assumed that they were for Mardi Gras until I remembered what day it was. (Around here, Mardi Gras is a big deal. This may be another of those “Google it” things for you, Iris. Ha ha!) Anyhow, it’s still a goal of mine to one day visit Australia and your neighbor, New Zealand. I’m thinking Australia Day might be a fun time to visit.

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