Moomba

Melbourne & Moomba 

Moomba Melbourne 1955

Personally for me Moomba is very important event in my life...as it reminds me of my first outing that I had when I arrived in Australia for the first time...

We arrived in Melbourne as a young married couple in 1981...that is now 30 years ago. It seems like yesterday but yet...we landed at Melbourne Airport on the 7th March. We both left our families behind ...not knowing really what lies ahead of us. It is amazing the challenges that we take in life without even knowing what it is going  to bring along. This was the hardest decision of my life.

From memory we must have arrived Thursday and the first outing we made was to the Moomba Parade in the city of Melbourne  It was  a wonderful start to our life in Australia. I did not know what to expect...coming from Malta...the only then carnival we had was the big Parade celebration with floats bands etc ...to celebrate the beginning of Lent  

The meaning behind our Carnival was   "Traditionally this was the time to indulge and feast before sobering up for the 40-day fast which in Christian and Catholic tradition preceded the Resurrection of Christ. Actually carne vale marked the period when meat and other earthly pleasures could be enjoyed in a spree prior to the commencement of the term of Lenten penitence. "

Not having traveled much before then I assumed that this was the same celebration as we were used to as it happens more or less at the same time of the year....but I soon found out that it was otherwise....this is how it started....

Moomba is Australia's largest free community festival and one of the longest running festivals in Australia. Held annually in the city of Melbourne, Australia, Moomba is celebrated during the Labour Day long weekend (over four days, from Friday to the second Monday in March), and has been celebrated since 1955. In 2003, the event was renamed Melbourne Moomba Waterfest. It is a family festival run by the City of Melbourne Council.   you can continue reading it about the Carnival here

There is a lot of activities  that occur during the weekend, water sport competitions on the Yarra River, Parades in the City streets, Children Activities, Musical festival...fireworks  etc etc....

This year  we had fantastic weather on Monday for the Parade which I am sure was enjoyed by all.....Has anyone of you attended  any activities during this weekend? What did you think of it...Personally I have not been for quite a few years now...but it always brings memories!

 More shots of the Moomba Carnival 2011