Harmony Day? What you need to know.

What is Harmony Day? According to Google, Harmony Day is celebrated on the 21^st of March and “celebrates diversity, aiming to foster inclusiveness, respect and the idea that people of all different cultures can make a valuable contribution to society." 

I suppose the question we should aim to answer is whether this has a place in the current culture or is it an outdated concept as this was a tradition that started back in the late 1900s. The simple answer is YES, this still does have a place in the current culture of Australia as well as the entire world.

 

Racial inequality still persists whether it may be in major ways or minor, minute gestures that most don’t think twice about. The old ways of thinking are still ingrained in most of us to some extent and it is our duty as citizens of the world to unlearn the old prejudices which is where the Harmony Day comes in. The day itself is dedicated for this type of learning and inclusiveness. The day can have a multitude of activities around the idea of celebrating our differences as well as social and racial justice, a sense of belonging that goes a long way to create a better understanding of difference cultures that persist in Australia and to bring everyone together.

What you need to know.

• ·         Celebrated on the 21^st of March
• ·         Originated in 1999
• ·         Represented by the colour orange which symbolizes peace
  
• ·         Includes activities around the idea of diversity and hopes to celebrate the differences among us to create a sense of inclusiveness and belonging.

To sign off, I wish for a future where a Harmony Day in any country becomes an old and outdated concept because diversity is celebrated throughout the year instead of focusing on one day. I wish for a future where it becomes such a foreign concept due to the sense of inclusiveness and belonging that exists between people of difference races and cultures, countries and states. Wishful thinking? Perhaps. But maybe, just maybe, it won’t be one day.