The Tradition of Australia

Folklore
Dreamtime is a term used to describe the time when the Aboriginal people set up their world. This was the time when myths are originated and passed down to the present world. Some myths are seen to be nearly truthful such as the explanation of creation of natural things. The Aboriginal Dreamtime, a part of culture, explains the origin of people and their land. It also consist of story on how things had happened, the start of the universe, the creation of humans, and the function of humans for the creator. Dreamtime is a platform for Aboriginal Religion and Culture.

However, the essence of Dreamtime has faded with time as the Aboriginal people are scattered in their settlements and reduction of their population. The modernisation of Australia with the introduction of ’Disneyification’ has influenced the thinking of Aboriginal people leading the dilution of contents. However, this has become a theme, an attraction to tourist to showcase Australia’s origin, culture.

Days

Australian Day

Australia has a day similar to America’s Thanksgiving day is the Australian Day that falls on the 26th January, the landing of the First Fleet of Convicts in Botany Bay, representing the anniversary of the arrival of the British to establish the penal colony of New South Wales. It is a day for Australians to commemorate the suffering of the Convicts of the cruelty of the wardens, to reflect upon the past and the present of Australia. Many Australians express them through action by using this day for friends visiting, attend concerts or have a barbeque gathering. This freedom of practice and how they want to spend their day is because there is no fixed custom to it.


Food
Australian usually dined with western cuisine. They are popular among the locals and Australia has their own traditional food which are Vegemite, Meat Pie, Pavola and Lamingtons.

Vegemite is black spread made from yeast extract plus salt and is spread on toast or sandwiches. Australian children have been eating it since their babyhood.
There are approximately 260 million meat pies are eaten by Australians every year.
Pavola is a dessert with a soft meringue with fruit and cream filling
Lamingtons is a sponge cake cube desserts coated with chocolate and coconut.

Greeting tradition
Australians are relaxed and causal when comes to greeting. A handshake and a smile are sufficient as a greeting. Australians prefer to use their first name even it is a first meeting of people.

Gift-giving tradition
Small gifts are exchanged with close ones among the Australians on birthdays and Christmas. A gift such as a box of chocolate or flowers is always brought to the host when Australians are invited to someone's home. These gifts are opened when received.