Commonwealth Day – March 9, 2020

Commonwealth Day 2020 will be celebrated on March 9th with events across five continents including flag parades, church services, poetry mornings, dance performances and much more.

Observed by the 53 member states of the Commonwealth Of Nations, Commonwealth Day is a celebration that is held on the second March of every year. Its purpose is to recognize the work of Commonwealth members and to promote understanding and cooperation on global issues.

This year’s event is centred around the theme ‘Delivering a Common Future’, highlighting how the member countries in the Commonwealth family are ‘innovating, connecting and transforming’ to help achieve some of its biggest goals like protecting natural resources and boosting trade.

This observance day was officially enacted in the late 1970s, although most historians agree that its roots can probably can be traced all the way back to the late 19th century when Empire Day was enacted – an observance day that celebrated the British roots of Canada. Over time however, Canada began to develop its own National identity that was separate of the identity of Great Britain. To account for the changes in the relationship between Great Britain and her former colonies, Commonwealth Day was established in 1958.

In 1976, it was enacted to celebrate the day universally over all member states.The flag of the Commonwealth of Nations is the official flag used by and representing the Commonwealth of Nations. Its current design dates to 2013 with a modification of a design adopted in 1976.  The flag was developed from car pennants produced for the first time at the 1973 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, held in Ottawa, Ontario. The initiative for its design is credited to two Canadians – Commonwealth Secretary-General, Arnold Smith and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. It was officially adopted on March 26, 1976.

The original design featured a globe surrounded by 61 radiating, approximately quadrilateral, sun rays, which form a ‘C’ for ‘Commonwealth’. The number of sun rays did not represent the number of member states (there have never been 61 members); instead, the large number represented the many ways in which the Commonwealth cooperates around the world.

In 2013, the globe was tilted, and the number of sun rays reduced to 34. The colourings used in the flag were also slightly modified.

In Canada, the Canadian Flag is usually flown alongside the Union Jack to commemorate the day. However, if the flag pole is not big enough to accommodate two flags, then usually only the Canadian Flag is flown.