Interesting Facts About Australian Culture



Australia is of the developed countries in the world. Its economy is very strong. The name "Australia" was officially adopted and made known by the British governor of the colony of New South Wales in 1817. The title was proposed in 1814 and is derived from the Latin terra australis incognita land of the south unknown, which cartographers used centuries before European colonization. Australia has developed a complex national culture with immigrants from many parts of the world, as well as a native and indigenous population of Torres Street, since its time as a British colony. The marked social and historical differences between the different countries and regions have not become a great subcultural diversity based on geographic regions.

For many of the country's history, it has focused on the integration of different cultural groups into the dominant traditions of British Australia. However, in the early 1970s, a more pluralistic multiculturalism policy was known. In 1988, the events of the bicentenary were officially announced as a "celebration of a nation". It is determined that Australia is a collective of different people living in a relatively young society. However, divisions within the nation continue to be expressed in public life due to social differences of race, ethnicity, social class, and gender.

Geographical Location

Generally, Australia is an island and continent in the southern hemisphere located between Antarctica and Asia. It is surrounded by the Indian Ocean to the west. the oceans of Timor, Arafura and Coral to the north; the Pacific to the east; and the Tasman Sea and the Southern Ocean to the south. Many of the continents are down, flat and dry. The continent's area is 7.69 million square kilometers. Although the effects of environmental differences are very evident in traditional Australian indigenous cultures, this was not an important factor in immigrant cultures. The main differences in lifestyle are mainly due to climatic fluctuations.

Demography

In the 1986 census, the total population of Australia was just over 15.5 million. By 1992, the population had grown to 17.5 million and In 1996, there were 18.3 million. By 2000, that number is expected to reach 19 million. In 1997, 4.3 million (23%) of the population were born abroad. About 2% of the population are natives or islanders of Torres Street, descendants of Native Americans on the continent before European colonization. This sector of the population has a higher birth rate than the others, but also a higher mortality rate and a lower life expectancy. In 1996, the population that identified as indigenous or islanders on Torres Street was 372,000, probably about the same as in 1788; Many of these people have Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal ancestors.

 

Religion

Australian constitution guarantees religious freedom for all, and although there is no official national religion in Australia, it is generally a Christian country. British settlers introduced The Anglican belief system in 1788 and three-quarters of the population continue to identify with some form of Christianity, primarily the Catholic and Anglican religions. Generally, almost all businesses closed for Christian religious holidays. Extensive immigration has made Australia one of the most culturally diverse societies in the world. Almost all religions are represented, with a significant number of Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, and Hindus. Many indigenous Australians have adopted Christianity, often as a result of their contact with missionaries and missions.

The alternatives of religious such as spiritism and theosophy have had a small but constant presence since the 1850s. A growing body of beliefs is represented by the so-called New Age movement, which arrived in the 1960s and became the Movement generalized alternative

Relationship

The countries first immigrants were Chinese, They are attracted by the gold rush of 1850 and 1860. The fear of misunderstandings and the resulting xenophobia and racial disturbances led to restrictive legislation against the importation of Chinese workers and the Pacific. However, immigration was considered important; A well-known phrase was "populate or perish," which reflects the logic that population growth would support both defense and economic development.

The Federation of States agreed in 1901 to implement one of the most influential government policies affecting the development of national culture: the Immigration Restriction Act. This "white Australia policy" was mainly aimed at combating the "yellow danger" perceived by immigrants from neighboring Asian countries. For much of the 20th century, migrants were selected according to a hierarchy of convenience that widened when privileged sources were exhausted. The British have always been at the top of the list and a series of government grants and settlement plans have been implemented to promote their immigration.

Consequently, immigration can be defined as a series of waves, the British dominating until the 1940s, followed by Northern Europeans including those displaced by the First World War, Southern Europeans mainly after World War II world, and finally after the abandonment of the policy of white Australia in 1972, the Asians. Immigration has been declining since the 1980s and access are now difficult. The number of migrants has become a topic of discussion.

Australian food 

There is no food is reserved for special occasions, although the religious traditions of certain ethnic groups include ceremonial meals. Easter and Christmas are observed by the majority of the population. Christmas is usually celebrated as in Britain, with roasted turkey, ham and roasted vegetables, followed by a steamed fruit pudding. However, there is a growing trend for Christmas to involve a light seafood meal, and barbecues are also becoming popular. Instead of pudding, many people have ice cream cakes or cold desserts like pavlova made with egg whites and sugar. 

There are some people celebrate "Christmas in July" by using the coldest month of the year to enjoy the hot dinner of a traditional Christmas. Special meals are eaten among ethnic groups to celebrate Easter or Easter. At that time, children received molded chocolate products easter eggs.


Men and women

In this country's many areas for social, economic, political and religious life remain gender-specific, generally disadvantaged for women. Women are underrepresented in the scientific, managerial and professional occupations and are overrepresented in administrative and clerical positions. Women earn on average less than men and spend more time than men doing unpaid housework.

The right of women to vote in federal elections was enshrined in the 1901 constitution. However, women's progress in entering the public service was reducing speed In 1995, the representation of women in local, state and federal government was around 20%. Although women are more likely to devote time to religious activities than men, most ministers of religion are men.

Marriage and family life 

Most of the couples marry for love and to confirm long-term emotional, financial and sexual commitment. Arranged marriages take place in certain ethnic groups, but most people do not consider them desirable. Marriage is not essential for life or child-rearing relationship, but almost 60% of people over the age of 15 are married. The law grants de facto relationships members legal rights and responsibilities equivalent to those of officially married couples. Gay couples are not recognized by law as married, regardless of their long-term relationship. The marriage takes place with a civil or religious ceremony performed by a registered office and can take place in any public or private place. The ceremony is usually followed by a celebration with food, drink, and music. Guests give gifts of household goods or money, and the couple's parents often contribute substantially to the cost of the wedding. There is no other official exchange of goods.

Since 1975 the divorce has been available and involves little stigma. It requires a one-year separation period and occurs in about 40 percent of first marriages. At the time of the divorce, the husband and wife agree to share their mutual property and their parental responsibilities; Courts and mediators sometimes to assist in this process. The new marriage is common and accepted. An important trend in family education is a dramatic increase in the proportion of marriages preceded by a period of cohabitation.