*Ø* Wattle Day, Australia

This here is the wattle,
emblem of our land.
You can stick it in a bottle,
you can hold it in your hand.
Monty Python's Flying Circus*



Formerly August 1, Wattle Day was gazetted for September 1 by the Keating Government in 1992. The wattle may be one of many species available, and it is said that across Australia, on any day of the year there is at least one species flowering.

The flower loved by Australians (except allergy sufferers) was so named because the early British and Irish settlers used wooden slats and sticks of these Acacia trees to make their wattle-and-daub huts, being made of clay spread over light timbers in the style of the old country, or 'Home' as it was known for many years in the colony.

Australia's colours, as seen at the (ptuii!!) Olympiks are green and gold, due to the popularity of the plant and its frequent presence in the Australian bush alongside the omnipresent gumtrees (Eucalyptus spp).

This is just a snippet of today's stories. Read all about today in folklore, historical oddities, inspiration and alternatives, with many more links, at the Wilson's Almanac Book of Days, every day. Click today's date (or your birthday) when you're there.

We have the full text of the Monty Python classic 'Aussie sketch' today, including 'The Drinking Song of the Department of Philosophy of the University of Woolloomooloo', with lyrics & audio of the song.