Wattle Day
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Wattle Day is a day of celebration in New South Wales, Australia of the first day of spring with the use of acacias, known by the common name "wattle" in Australia. A sprig of Australia's national floral emblem, the golden wattle, Acacia pycnantha is traditionally worn on this day. In 1992 September first was formally declared as "National Wattle Day" by then Minister for the Environment, Ros Kelly at a ceremony held at the Australian National Botanic Gardens.[1] The wattle day history (incredible info) The day was originally conceived as a day to demonstrate patriotism for the new nation of Australia by wearing a sprig of wattle. The first known use of wattle as a meaningful emblem in the Australian colonies dates back to the early days of Tasmania in 1838, when the wearing of silver wattle sprigs was encouraged especially on the occasion of an anniversary celebration of the seventeenth century European discovery of the island. However the first recognised use of wattle as a symbol of the first day of spring was the formation in 1899 of a 'Wattle Club' in Victoria by Mr A. J. Campbell, a field naturalist. For several years the club organised bush outings on the first day in September. The first suggestion of a Wattle Day was made by Mr Campbell during a speech in September 1908.The first wattle day was celebrated in 1910 in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.[2]
