December is dominated by Christmas Parties and ends with a bang at New Year but here are some other ideas for December parties. When you use National Days and weeks for your party theme, you could some fundraising for them as well. And for fans, there are Star Wars parties to celebrate the the release.
Aussie icons –
- The Eureka Stockade / Eureka Rebellion, which was either the birth of Australian democracy or an act of tax avoidance by gold prospectors, was on 3 December 1854. Here is a brief history from the Australian government and wikipedia article on the Eureka Rebellion
- On 5 December 1924, the first Woolworths supermarket opened. Go shopping for some Jatz and cheese, vegemite, and other long-standing Australian supermarket staples to celebrate.
- On 5 December 1958, the construction of the Sydney Opera House began.
- On 19 December 1955, iconic Aussie Dame Edna Everage made her stage debut, launching a glorious career.
- On 31 December 1935, cane toads were introduced in Queensland to control the grey-back beetle, but have since become an even bigger pest – and an Aussie icon.
- see more Aussie Icons Party Theme Ideas
Other December anniversaries to celebrate:
- 1 December 1838 – First annual Royal Hobart Regatta. The regatta is now held in February.
- 10 December 1895 – Launceston gets electric street lights – the first city in Australia to do so.
- 9 December 1983 – Paul Keating floats the Australian dollar – before this the value of the Australian dollar had been linked to the price of gold. Have a gold party.
- 15 December 1905 – Queensland women win the right to vote in state elections.
- 18 December 1894 – South Australian women are the first in Australia to win the right to vote in state elections.
- 21 December 1938 – Australia phones the US – Direct telephone connection between Canberra and Washington DC is made. Call up for a US party.
- The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, now a Boxing Day tradition, was first held on 26 December 1945.
- 26 December 1998 – The first Australian astronaut to walk in space, Andy Thomas. Have an outer space party.
Famous December Birthdays
- 1 – Bette Midler
- 8 – Mary Queen of Scots
- 9 – Dame Judi Dench
- 12 – Frank Sinartra – Ol’ Blue Eyes
- 16 – “Benny” Andersson – time for an ABBA party
- 16 – Arthur C Clarke – author of 2001: A Space Odyssey and other sci-fi.
- 16 – Jane Austen
- 18 – Betty Grable
- 19 – Edith Piaf
- 20 – Uri Geller – have a spoon bending party!
- 25 – Humphrey Bogart
- 25 – Sir Isaac Newton