Bounty Day

Bounty Day is a holiday on both Pitcairn Island, destination of the Bounty mutineers, and on Norfolk Island. It is celebrated on 23 January on Pitcairn, and on 8 June on Norfolk Island, the day that the descendants of the mutineers arrived on the respective islands. It is named for HMS Bounty, although the ship never saw Norfolk Island.

Pitcairn[edit]

Bounty Day is celebrated on Pitcairn Island on 23 January, in commemoration of the burning of Bounty by the mutineers in 1790. Model replicas, made by the islanders, are burned.^[1]

Norfolk Island[edit]

Bounty Day is the national holiday of Norfolk Island, celebrated annually on 8 June, in memory of the arrival of the Pitcairn Islanders on Norfolk Island in 1856.^[2]^[3] Prior to 8 June 1856, Norfolk Island had been a penal colony, but the Pitcairners received land grants (from Queen Victoria) upon their arrival at Norfolk Island in 1856.

Sequence of events[edit]

Bounty Day starts off with a re-enactment of the landing of the Pitcairners down at the Kingston Pier. The Pitcairners are greeted by the Administrator and his wife, and from the pier they march to the cenotaph where they lay wreaths in remembrance. From the cenotaph they then march to the cemetery where hymns are sung. Next, they proceed to Government House where a family surnamed either Quintal, Evans, McCoy, Buffett, Adams, Nobbs, Christian or Young (being descendants of the Pitcairners of that ilk) is awarded the title of 'Family of the Year'. The children roll down the hill in front of Government House, after which the whole procession travels to the Compound where the children play games and partake of a celebratory feast. Finally, everyone returns home to prepare for the Bounty Ball, at which there is a competition in further celebration of Bounty Day.^[4]

References[edit]

^ Andrea Vance & Iain McGregor (2019). "Edge of the World: part 2". Stuff. Retrieved 11 February 2021. The biggest celebration in the island's calendar is Bounty Day, to mark the burning of the ship by the mutineers on January 23. "It's a fish fry at The Landing," Lupton-Christian said. "While we are out fishing the ones who don't go will create a model [of the ship] to burn. We finish off the night with fireworks."
^ Norfolk Islanders Archived May 4, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
^ Norfolk Island Time Line Archived May 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
^ Paul Rush (29 August 2013). "Norfolk Island: Sanctuary of timeless loyalty". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 11 February 2021.