FUN WITH MAPS – ISSUE 2023-47 DAILY FEATURE:

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (March 13, 2023) – In today’s edition of Fun with Maps from Steve Kovacs, we learn about the change from Empire to Commonwealth.      

COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS

Today is Commonwealth Day, celebrated by the 56 countries around the world which are part of the Commonwealth of Nations.  The theme for 2023 is “forging a sustainable and peaceful common future.”

The Commonwealth roots go back to the British Empire, but any country can join.  The most recent countries to join were Gabon and Togo, just last year.

The original idea was proposed by a schoolgirl who thought there needed to be a day to “remind children that they formed part of the British Empire.” 

It began in Canada and was originally celebrated as Empire Day.  By the mid-1900s, empires had gone out of fashion and much of the world’s geography had taken on new governments.  In 1958, the name was changed to Commonwealth Day.

Although not a public holiday, except in Gibraltar, many countries will fly the Union Jack along with their national flags this week in honor of their alliance.

This world map by Black was published at the height of the British Empire, in 1892.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.