Wattle Day is observed in Australia every September 1, marking the first day of spring in the Southern Hemisphere. This holiday celebrates the blooming of several wattle (acacia) species, with many people wearing a sprig of wattle as a sign of patriotism. The origins of Wattle Day date back to 1838, when the first Hobart Town Anniversary Regatta encouraged the wearing of silver wattle blossoms, although the custom later shifted to the black wattle due to seasonal availability. In 1899, A. J. Campbell established a “Wattle Club” in Victoria, which organized outings to celebrate spring, and he officially proposed an annual Wattle Day in 1908. The first celebrations occurred in 1910 in cities such as Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide. The golden wattle was designated as Australia’s official floral emblem in 1988, and in 1992, September 1 was officially recognized as National Wattle Day by then Governor-General Bill Hayden.