День народження королеви в Новій Зеландії3 фото

Every year on the first Monday of June, New Zealand celebrates Queen’s Birthday Holiday. This holiday dates back to 1908 and was established by King Edward VII in order to avoid bad weather during the summer months, which could have disrupted public celebrations. To address this issue, Edward VII decided to move the celebration of his birthday to the early part of the summer. Since then, all English monarchs have followed this tradition. However, for New Zealand, located in the Southern Hemisphere, June represents the beginning of winter, characterized by prolonged rainy periods. Nevertheless, since the weather in New Zealand is not as severe as in England, and given the importance of this celebration for the country, the date has not been changed. Elizabeth II ascended to the throne of New Zealand on February 6, 1952, and holds the official title of Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand and her other kingdoms and territories, Head of the Commonwealth, and Defender of the Faith. In recent years, there have been proposals in New Zealand to replace Queen’s Birthday Holiday with a more traditional and locally significant festival, such as Matariki – the Maori New Year. However, the government has not yet considered these suggestions seriously. Interestingly, in Maori language, the queen is called “Kotuku,” which means “white heron” – a noble and protected bird species that is rare in New Zealand. As a result of celebrating Queen’s Birthday on Monday, New Zealanders enjoy three consecutive days off. However, this day is more of a traditional observance than a large-scale public celebration. For many people, it is an opportunity to take a break from their daily routines and engage in activities they enjoy, such as attending horse races or enjoying the ski season in the South Island. Additionally, on this day, according to long-standing tradition, the Honorary List is announced. This list recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of the countries within the British Commonwealth and awards them various honorary titles and honors.