If you live in the U.S., you have likely not heard of "Commonwealth Day," but it was celebrated on Monday, March 11, 2019 in the United Kingdom and many other countries! It's all about British colonies... and there are a LOT (see list below)!
In today's blog, you'll learn what it is!
WHAT IS COMMONWEALTH DAY?
Commonwealth Day is an annual event that celebrates the Commonwealth and the nations that are in it. When it was first introduced during the early 1900’s it was called Empire Day and was used as a way of uniting the countries that came under the British Empire. It became a popular annual event and in 1925 it saw 90,000 people attend an Empire Day thanksgiving service at the newly opened Wembley Stadium. In 1958 Prime Minister Harold Macmillan announced in Parliament that it would be renamed as Commonwealth Day and would focus on celebrating the shared history between the countries. Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/11/when-is-the-commonwealth-day-service-and-how-to-watch-8878415/?ito=cbshare
THIS YEAR'S EVENT -
On 11 March 2019, people in Commonwealth countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, the Pacific and Europe will observe Commonwealth Day.
The day will be celebrated with a broad range of activities, including faith and civic gatherings, debates, school assemblies, flag raising ceremonies, street parties, cultural events and a multicultural, multi-faith service at Westminster Abbey.
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| The Royal Family at the 2019 Commonwealth Day celebration. Cr: Popsugar. |
The theme for 2019 is ‘A Connected Commonwealth’, which offers opportunities for the people, governments and institutions of this richly diverse family of nations to connect and work together at many levels through far-reaching and deep-rooted networks of friendship and goodwill.
This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the formation of the Commonwealth as it is configured today, with old ties and new links enabling co-operation towards social, political and economic development, which is both inclusive and sustainable.
It was then agreed
in 1973 that it would be celebrated in all Commonwealth countries on the
second Monday of March each year.
The modern Commonwealth of Nations was formally created in 1949 to
ensure that all countries were considered to be ‘free and equal’.
Each year since 1995 the day has been given a specific theme such as
Music, A New Generation, and The Environment.
Commonwealth Day 2019 has the theme A Connected Commonwealth, which
focuses on the nations coming together to engage with each other as well
as celebrate the diverse cultures.
Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/11/when-is-the-commonwealth-day-service-and-how-to-watch-8878415/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/
Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/11/when-is-the-commonwealth-day-service-and-how-to-watch-8878415/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/
It was then agreed
in 1973 that it would be celebrated in all Commonwealth countries on the
second Monday of March each year.
The modern Commonwealth of Nations was formally created in 1949 to
ensure that all countries were considered to be ‘free and equal’.
Each year since 1995 the day has been given a specific theme such as
Music, A New Generation, and The Environment.
Commonwealth Day 2019 has the theme A Connected Commonwealth, which
focuses on the nations coming together to engage with each other as well
as celebrate the diverse cultures.
Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/11/when-is-the-commonwealth-day-service-and-how-to-watch-8878415/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/
THERE'S A WEBSITE! - For more information about it, visit: http://thecommonwealth.org/commonwealthday Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/11/when-is-the-commonwealth-day-service-and-how-to-watch-8878415/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/
It was then agreed
in 1973 that it would be celebrated in all Commonwealth countries on the
second Monday of March each year.
The modern Commonwealth of Nations was formally created in 1949 to
ensure that all countries were considered to be ‘free and equal’.
Each year since 1995 the day has been given a specific theme such as
Music, A New Generation, and The Environment.
Commonwealth Day 2019 has the theme A Connected Commonwealth, which
focuses on the nations coming together to engage with each other as well
as celebrate the diverse cultures.
Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/11/when-is-the-commonwealth-day-service-and-how-to-watch-8878415/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/
Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/11/when-is-the-commonwealth-day-service-and-how-to-watch-8878415/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/
It was then agreed
in 1973 that it would be celebrated in all Commonwealth countries on the
second Monday of March each year.
The modern Commonwealth of Nations was formally created in 1949 to
ensure that all countries were considered to be ‘free and equal’.
Each year since 1995 the day has been given a specific theme such as
Music, A New Generation, and The Environment.
Commonwealth Day 2019 has the theme A Connected Commonwealth, which
focuses on the nations coming together to engage with each other as well
as celebrate the diverse cultures.
Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/11/when-is-the-commonwealth-day-service-and-how-to-watch-8878415/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/
Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/11/when-is-the-commonwealth-day-service-and-how-to-watch-8878415/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/
WHAT COUNTRIES CELEBRATE COMMONWEALTH DAY?
