Countries have their own national symbols, symbols that identify them among others and have a very strong emotional charge. Of course, Australia, despite being a relatively new nation, also has them and although we have spoken before about the shield and the flag, we can talk better about the Golden Wattle, the national flower or plant.
El Golden Wattle, or Acacia Pycnantha Benth, is then the National emblem. It is a perennial plant in the shape of a small shrub or tree that grows in forests, jungles and scrublands in the south of the country, Victoria, the Australian territories and New South Wales. It blooms and when it does it is colored green and gold. But since when do Australians consider the Golden wattle one of their national emblems?
Well, it seems that the plant was unofficially accepted in 1901 for symbolize unity of the Federation. A year later, Prime Minister Fisher had the idea of including the wattle as a decoration in the Commonwealth coat of arms and well, from then on the wattle has gone down in history with positive connotations: it is a symbol of unity that resists droughts, winds and fires. His stamina, his endurance, represents the australian spirit, the strength of the country.
Well, National Golden Wattle Day is the September 1 and although no one marks it, there is a tradition of wearing a wattle flower that day. The day itself has been promoted by a special group that was recognized in 1992 and that encourages people to remember the meaning of the emblem by planting wattles across the country. And of course, despite the fact that the Australian flag is blue and red, we already know why the colors of many of the uniforms of the sports delegations are green and gold: in honor of the wattle.
Good explanation! Thanks