- Commonwealth
Day is a day to remember, celebrate and learn about the
Commonwealth. On Commonwealth Day, the Head of the
Commonwealth, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, delivers
her Commonwealth Day Message, and leads a multi-faith
observance at London's Westminster Abbey. This is
attended by representatives of Commonwealth countries,
and children offer the flags of member nations for
blessing. Flags also fly in Parliament Square and at
Marlborough House in London, where the Secretariat is
housed.
- The
Queen's message is broadcast throughout the Commonwealth,
and in many of them augmented by a message from the
President or Prime Minister, or another senior minister.
In recent years, the Commonwealth Secretary-General has
also issued a statement, which is read on radio or
published in different countries.
- The multi-faith
observance held at Westminster Abbey, too is replicated
in the cathedrals, temples, mosques or churches of other
member countries. As with the London ceremony, these
include readings from the sacred texts of the
Commonwealth's major religions of Buddhism, Christianity,
Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and others.
- The Commonwealth
Secretariat sends a colourful poster on the Commonwealth
to schools in member countries, each year focusing on a
different theme. This year the theme is 'Sport brings us
together'.
- Schools are the
core of Commonwealth Day, and the second Monday in March
was selected by Commonwealth leaders because it was a day
when most schools would be in session.
- The many
activities schools have initiated include
mini-Commonwealth Games, mock Heads of Government
Meetings (where students play the roles of different
leaders), project studies of the geography, products or
societies of other Commonwealth countries, and
celebrations of the cultural and artistic diversity of
the Commonwealth through exhibitions, readings, dance and
drama. Quizzes to test student knowledge of Commonwealth
affairs are popular; so are collections of stamps and
product labels.
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