The Commonwealth of Nations celebrate Commonwealth Day every year, on
second Monday in March. The Commonwealth is an inter-governmental
organization consisting of 52 former British colonies along with Rwanda
and Mozambique, founded in 1959 and united by the Singapore Declaration
of 1971. The Declaration outlines common goals for Commonwealth
countries, including the promotion of democracy, human rights,
egalitarianism and world peace. The Commonwealth is also connected
through a shard culture, expressed through sports, literary heritage and
political and legal structures.
Commonwealth Day was marked for the first time as "Empire Day" on the
last school day before Queen Victoria's birthday, 24th May, in 1898. In
1904 it was introduced in the UK and the other members of the erstwhile
British Empire, and in 1958 it was renamed Commonwealth Day. It began
as an opportunity for people to show pride in being the Queen's people,
i.e. allegiance to the British Empire, and continued as a celebration of
the new post-colonial relationship shared between Britain and its
former colonies. It was often conflated with Victoria Day, which was a
commemoration of the monarch's life marked with bonfires and fireworks.
It was finally instituted as a Commonwealth-wide holiday in 1976, based
on a recommendation by the Royal Commonwealth Society's National Council
in Canada. The second Monday in March was chosen as a day with no
existing historical connotations.
While Commonwealth Day is not a public holiday, the Canadian
federal government orders government installations worldwide, such as
federal buildings, airports, military bases etc. to fly the Royal Union
Flag alongside Canada's own flag on this day. There is a multi-faith
service at Westminster Abbey, usually where the Queen delivers an
address to Commonwealth which is broadcast throughout the world. In
Canada, the Prime Minister and other ministers make statements as well.
Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney
noted in 2012, "Our historical Commonwealth ties have provided Canada
with many of the fundamental values that are at the foundation of our
society, such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law." The Prime
Minister called it an "opportunity to celebrate the strong bonds of
cooperation and friendship that exist among the 54 countries that form
the Commonwealth." 2012 has special significance since it is also the
60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's rule. Apart from governmental
observances however, it is not a widely celebrated holiday, though
sometimes there are receptions and exhibitions held in the honor of the
Commonwealth.
Certain other countries like the UK, Australia, Belize and the
Bahamas also celebrate Commonwealth Day with special programs,
assemblies and flag-raising ceremonies in schools. Overall, the day is
observed to mark the contribution of the Commonwealth of Nations to the
creation of a harmonious global environment
