Emperor Day (Austenasia)

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Emperor Day
Emperor Jonathan I blowing out candles on a cake presented to him for his 21st birthday.
Observed byEmpire of Austenasia
TypeNational holiday
SignificanceBirthday of the reigning Monarch
CelebrationsGatherings or meals hosted by the Monarch
Date13 October (since 2013)

Emperor Day is a public holiday in the Empire of Austenasia. Currently celebrated on 13 October, the holiday celebrates the birthday of the incumbent Monarch; should the incumbent be female, Emperor Day would be renamed to Empress Day.

The holiday was established in October 2008 by Act 10 (Public Holidays), and has been celebrated every year since, despite not being a de jure recognised holiday in 2012 and 2013 due to the legislative overhaul which accompanied the implementation of the Austenasian Constitution of 2011. Recognition of the day as an official public holiday was reaffirmed by the Public Holidays Act 2014 on 14 January 2014.

As the date of the holiday changes in accordance with the occupant of the Throne, it was celebrated on 16 May (for Terry I) in 2009, on 9 June (for Esmond III) in 2010, on 20 May (for Declan I) in 2011 and 2012, and on 13 October (for the incumbent Jonathan I) in 2013 and every year since so far. The holiday was technically observed twice in 2011; as Declan I and Esmond III remained co-emperors until September, it should theoretically have been celebrated on 9 June 2011 as well in honour of Esmond III, but as he had lost the powers of the Throne by this point no official announcement or observation was made.

Unlike other non-religious national public holidays in Austenasia, which tend to be observed with the giving of speeches, the awarding of honours, etc., Emperor Day is almost always observed in a comparatively personal manner by the Monarch (the exception being Esmond III, who published an honours list for the occasion in 2010).

Emperor Day is observed with a gathering of dignitaries hosted by the Monarch on or near to the day. In 2013, the preceding day saw the Emperor host a gathering in Sutton, and in 2014, the following day saw a gathering in Putney. In 2015, the 21st birthday of Jonathan I, Emperor Day itself was celebrated by the Imperial Family with a celebratory meal at a restaurant, and in addition a party attended by friends and relatives was held at the Imperial Residence the following Friday 16th. Each Emperor Day since 2016 (the Emperor's 22nd birthday), the Emperor has celebrated the occasion with a meal out at a restaurant with the Princess Consort and/or members of the Imperial Family.