#commonwealthday

Commonwealth Day

Commonwealth Day is an annual moveable holiday that falls regularly on the second Monday in March, and which takes place on March 9 this year. The day is marked with a service attended by the British royal family at Westminster Abbey, and much celebration occurs globally in Commonwealth states! The historic event is a public holiday in some of its states and honors the history of the group. It promotes a peaceful global environment and hopes to inspire the Commonwealth states for their future with a yearly address by Queen Elizabeth. 

History of Commonwealth Day

Though Commonwealth Day today is a well-established holiday celebrated by an estimated 2 billion people worldwide, it wasn’t always called Commonwealth Day, and it had a smaller start. It was originally known as “Empire Day,” which was established in 1902 to honor Queen Victoria. After Queen Victoria died the year before, the idea was put forth to establish a holiday that honored England, the unity between nations of the Commonwealth, and its ideals of freedom, tolerance, and justice.

Empire Day actually wasn’t officially recognized until 1916, after having been celebrated unofficially in Canada for 14 years. It took another 10 years for it to truly reach a level of popularity – in 1925, an Empire Day Thanksgiving celebration at Wembley Stadium drew around 90,000 in attendance.

In 1958, the then-Prime Minister, Harold MacMillan, rebranded Empire Day as Commonwealth Day. This is because all of the Commonwealth shares history, legal systems, culture, and more. In 1973, the Royal Commonwealth Society proposed the day be changed, and the second Monday in March was selected by the Commonwealth Secretariat as the observance day.

In today’s postcolonial world, there is much debate over the morality of the Commonwealth. While some countries still find it an important and honorable piece of history, and others even still identify the Queen of England as their monarch, more and more discourse is emerging on whether or not it is a problematic holiday. Many countries in the Commonwealth were, at one time or another, prevented from gaining independence, and some find it a reminder of brutal colonization.

Nonetheless, Commonwealth Day is still celebrated by many countries with much fervor. Several countries in the Commonwealth – though notably not Britain – celebrate Commonwealth Day as a public holiday. Parties and other festivities are held, good food is cooked, and flags are raised. Many tune in on Commonwealth Day to watch the service at Westminster Abbey, hear the Queen’s address and feel a great sense of pride in the historic alliance that is the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth Day timeline

March 15, 2006

Commonwealth Games in Australia

The Commonwealth Games, which can be compared to the Olympics, are athletic competitions between the Commonwealth that occur every four years. In 2006, Queen Elizabeth II kicked off the Australian games by giving her yearly Commonwealth Address from Australia.

1958

The First Commonwealth Day

Prime Minister Harold MacMillan announced that Empire Day would come to be known as Commonwealth Day.

1925

Empire Day Grows in Popularity

After an Empire Day Thanksgiving service held at Wembley Stadium attracted 90,000 people, the day began to really take off in popularity.

1916

Empire Day Recognized

Though it had been celebrated informally since 1902, Empire Day - the precursor to Commonwealth Day - was not officially recognized as a holiday until 1916.

1902 Empire Day Honors Queen Victoria and England To honor Queen Victoria after her passing in 1901, patriotic Empire Day was established the next year on her birthday, May 24.

Commonwealth Day FAQs

What is the purpose of Commonwealth Day?

In recent years, there has been a shift away from celebrating a single day towards celebrating a full week, with Commonwealth Day at its focus and first day. The aim is to celebrate the unity, diversity and links of the modern Commonwealth and to foster a greater understanding of the Commonwealth’s achievements and role.

What is British Commonwealth Day?

The day marks Commonwealth Day in more than 50 countries around the world. Once known as Empire Day, it is envisioned as a celebration of the cultural exchange and shared values of former Empire states. Of course, today the notion of celebrating Britain’s colonial past is a topic of some debate.

Who is the head of Commonwealth nations?

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is Head of the Commonwealth. Her role is an important symbolic one.

How to Observe Commonwealth Day

Watch the Westminster Abbey service: Commonwealth Day is famously celebrated by a sermon at Westminster Abbey attended by the Queen of England. It’s televised, and followed by an address by the Queen to the various states, as she is the Head of the Commonwealth.

Learn its history: Commonwealth Day is of massive historical importance to a significant segment of the global population. However, if you’re just hearing of it, it’s worth reading up on! Check out its history as Empire Day, and understand just why so many countries are proud to be included in such an alliance.

Attend a street party or parade: There are Commonwealth festivities worldwide, so as long as it’s safe where you are, head out and find a place to celebrate! Many celebrate by eating good food, partying, and raising flags to show their pride.

5 Fun Facts About Commonwealth Day

Many are no longer in loyal to the queen: The Commonwealth of nations includes 53 countries, though only 16 still recognize the British Queen as their monarch.

It’s celebrated by a significant portion of the world: Nearly ⅓ of the globe celebrates Commonwealth Day - that’s around 2 billion people.

It’s not a public holiday everywhere: Though it honors the British Empire and all the states it contained, it’s actually not a British public holiday! However, other states of the Commonwealth, like Gibraltar, recognize it as such.

Some are now grappling with its ties to colonialism: Today, many are rethinking Britain’s history of colonialism and imperialism, and a new reality of the Commonwealth states and Commonwealth Day is increasingly being understood. There is a current push towards the moral reckoning of the holiday.

The Commonwealth has a massive GDP: The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Commonwealth tops that of even the European Union (EU) - and is only expected to grow.

Why Commonwealth Day is Important

It’s an important historical day: Originally, Commonwealth Day was born from Empire Day, which honored the life and death of Queen Victoria in 1901. While this is a great piece of history, Commonwealth Day is even more historically important because it honors the historical peace within the Commonwealth, and all the common good they have achieved in partnership.

It’s a chance to display pride for the Commonwealth: Though not all the states of the Commonwealth have made Commonwealth Day a public holiday or are even still loyal to the queen, many are proud to have been included in such an alliance, and proudly display their history on this day.

It’s entertaining: Every year, billions of people celebrate Commonwealth Day with festivities and good food. On top of that, many entertainment personalities and celebrities lend a hand to speak in honor of Commonwealth Day, or even at the Commonwealth Day service. While the day is steeped in tradition and history, it’s still known to be very entertaining.

Commonwealth Day

Commonwealth Day is an annual moveable holiday that falls regularly on the second Monday in March, and which takes place on March 11 this year. The day is marked with a service attended by the British royal family at Westminster Abbey, and much celebration occurs globally in Commonwealth states! The historic event is a public holiday in some of its states and honors the history of the group. It promotes a peaceful global environment and hopes to inspire the Commonwealth states for their future with a yearly address by Queen Elizabeth. 

History of Commonwealth Day

Though Commonwealth Day today is a well-established holiday celebrated by an estimated 2 billion people worldwide, it wasn’t always called Commonwealth Day, and it had a smaller start. It was originally known as “Empire Day,” which was established in 1902 to honor Queen Victoria. After Queen Victoria died the year before, the idea was put forth to establish a holiday that honored England, the unity between nations of the Commonwealth, and its ideals of freedom, tolerance, and justice.

Empire Day actually wasn’t officially recognized until 1916, after having been celebrated unofficially in Canada for 14 years. It took another 10 years for it to truly reach a level of popularity – in 1925, an Empire Day Thanksgiving celebration at Wembley Stadium drew around 90,000 in attendance.

In 1958, the then-Prime Minister, Harold MacMillan, rebranded Empire Day as Commonwealth Day. This is because all of the Commonwealth shares history, legal systems, culture, and more. In 1973, the Royal Commonwealth Society proposed the day be changed, and the second Monday in March was selected by the Commonwealth Secretariat as the observance day.

In today’s postcolonial world, there is much debate over the morality of the Commonwealth. While some countries still find it an important and honorable piece of history, and others even still identify the Queen of England as their monarch, more and more discourse is emerging on whether or not it is a problematic holiday. Many countries in the Commonwealth were, at one time or another, prevented from gaining independence, and some find it a reminder of brutal colonization.

Nonetheless, Commonwealth Day is still celebrated by many countries with much fervor. Several countries in the Commonwealth – though notably not Britain – celebrate Commonwealth Day as a public holiday. Parties and other festivities are held, good food is cooked, and flags are raised. Many tune in on Commonwealth Day to watch the service at Westminster Abbey, hear the Queen’s address and feel a great sense of pride in the historic alliance that is the Commonwealth.

Commonwealth Day timeline

March 15, 2006

Commonwealth Games in Australia

The Commonwealth Games, which can be compared to the Olympics, are athletic competitions between the Commonwealth that occur every four years. In 2006, Queen Elizabeth II kicked off the Australian games by giving her yearly Commonwealth Address from Australia.

1958

The First Commonwealth Day

Prime Minister Harold MacMillan announced that Empire Day would come to be known as Commonwealth Day.

1925

Empire Day Grows in Popularity

After an Empire Day Thanksgiving service held at Wembley Stadium attracted 90,000 people, the day began to really take off in popularity.

1916

Empire Day Recognized

Though it had been celebrated informally since 1902, Empire Day - the precursor to Commonwealth Day - was not officially recognized as a holiday until 1916.

1902 Empire Day Honors Queen Victoria and England To honor Queen Victoria after her passing in 1901, patriotic Empire Day was established the next year on her birthday, May 24.

Commonwealth Day FAQs

What is the purpose of Commonwealth Day?

In recent years, there has been a shift away from celebrating a single day towards celebrating a full week, with Commonwealth Day at its focus and first day. The aim is to celebrate the unity, diversity and links of the modern Commonwealth and to foster a greater understanding of the Commonwealth’s achievements and role.

What is British Commonwealth Day?

The day marks Commonwealth Day in more than 50 countries around the world. Once known as Empire Day, it is envisioned as a celebration of the cultural exchange and shared values of former Empire states. Of course, today the notion of celebrating Britain’s colonial past is a topic of some debate.

Who is the head of Commonwealth nations?

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is Head of the Commonwealth. Her role is an important symbolic one.

How to Observe Commonwealth Day

Watch the Westminster Abbey service: Commonwealth Day is famously celebrated by a sermon at Westminster Abbey attended by the Queen of England. It’s televised, and followed by an address by the Queen to the various states, as she is the Head of the Commonwealth.

Learn its history: Commonwealth Day is of massive historical importance to a significant segment of the global population. However, if you’re just hearing of it, it’s worth reading up on! Check out its history as Empire Day, and understand just why so many countries are proud to be included in such an alliance.

Attend a street party or parade: There are Commonwealth festivities worldwide, so as long as it’s safe where you are, head out and find a place to celebrate! Many celebrate by eating good food, partying, and raising flags to show their pride.

5 Fun Facts About Commonwealth Day

Many are no longer in loyal to the queen: The Commonwealth of nations includes 53 countries, though only 16 still recognize the British Queen as their monarch.

It’s celebrated by a significant portion of the world: Nearly ⅓ of the globe celebrates Commonwealth Day - that’s around 2 billion people.

It’s not a public holiday everywhere: Though it honors the British Empire and all the states it contained, it’s actually not a British public holiday! However, other states of the Commonwealth, like Gibraltar, recognize it as such.

Some are now grappling with its ties to colonialism: Today, many are rethinking Britain’s history of colonialism and imperialism, and a new reality of the Commonwealth states and Commonwealth Day is increasingly being understood. There is a current push towards the moral reckoning of the holiday.

The Commonwealth has a massive GDP: The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Commonwealth tops that of even the European Union (EU) - and is only expected to grow.

Why Commonwealth Day is Important

It’s an important historical day: Originally, Commonwealth Day was born from Empire Day, which honored the life and death of Queen Victoria in 1901. While this is a great piece of history, Commonwealth Day is even more historically important because it honors the historical peace within the Commonwealth, and all the common good they have achieved in partnership.

It’s a chance to display pride for the Commonwealth: Though not all the states of the Commonwealth have made Commonwealth Day a public holiday or are even still loyal to the queen, many are proud to have been included in such an alliance, and proudly display their history on this day.

It’s entertaining: Every year, billions of people celebrate Commonwealth Day with festivities and good food. On top of that, many entertainment personalities and celebrities lend a hand to speak in honor of Commonwealth Day, or even at the Commonwealth Day service. While the day is steeped in tradition and history, it’s still known to be very entertaining.

Today, we proudly mark Commonwealth Day 2025, a day that stands as a testament to Britain's enduring legacy and the unity of our great Commonwealth family. It is a day to reflect on our shared history, values, and the incredible impact Britain has had on the world. While some try to rewrite history, we embrace it with pride because the Commonwealth represents the best of Britain: strength, resilience, and leadership.

A Legacy Worth Celebrating

The Commonwealth is more than just an alliance of 56 nations it is the embodiment of Britain’s global influence, diplomacy, and tradition. From the streets of London to the beaches of the Caribbean, from the plains of Africa to the bustling metropolises of Asia, the Commonwealth unites 2.5 billion people under a common heritage and shared values of democracy, freedom, and cooperation.

Britain’s role in shaping this global community cannot be understated. We have led the world in governance, law, trade, and culture. The English language, the parliamentary system, and the very ideals of justice and fair play have been exported to nations across the Commonwealth, strengthening ties that continue to stand the test of time.

Rejecting Revisionist Narratives

There are those who seek to diminish Britain’s contributions, twisting history into a narrative of guilt and shame. But on this day, we reject such nonsense. The Commonwealth is not a relic of the past; it is a thriving, modern alliance built on voluntary association, mutual respect, and cooperation. Former colonies did not "escape" Britain they chose to remain part of a family bound by shared values and traditions.

The Strength of the Commonwealth Today

Trade & Economy: The Commonwealth represents a powerhouse of economic potential, with free trade agreements strengthening our bonds and ensuring prosperity for generations to come.

Culture & Sport: From the Commonwealth Games to shared traditions in literature, music, and film, our cultural influence remains unmatched.

Security & Diplomacy: Commonwealth nations work together to tackle global challenges, whether it be counterterrorism, cybersecurity, or peacekeeping efforts.

A Call for Renewed Patriotism

As we celebrate Commonwealth Day, let us take pride in our flag, our monarchy, and our institutions. Let us remember that Britain has given more to the world than any other nation and we continue to do so. Today, let’s raise the Union Jack with honour, reject the defeatist mentality of the modern left, and stand firm in our love for Britain and the Commonwealth.

On this Commonwealth Day, We the Muslim School in Lucknow stand together as a global community, celebrating the diversity of our nations and embracing a shared vision for a peaceful and sustainable future. Let us nurture compassion, understanding, and respect, weaving together our unique cultures and strengths. In unity, we can overcome challenges, inspire change, and create a world where every voice is heard. Together, we forge a path toward a brighter and harmonious tomorrow.