Australian Culture: Significance of National Holidays

Australia’s diverse culture is what separates it from the rest of the world. Being the largest oceanic country and a host of some of the best natural and man-made wonders, Australia receives a fair share of visitors each year. Like every other country in the world, Australia also has a few national holidays and they are celebrated with high energy in every part of the nation. Here is a list of some of the prominent holidays in the country.

Australia Day 2022 is the second national holiday of the year and is a prominent day in the history of Australians. Every year the 26th of January is celebrated to commemorate the arrival of the first fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788. Sydney hosts an array of parades and celebrations and the harbour is usually the centre to most of the prominent events. The best way to watch all the events is to board one of the family-friendly Australia Day cruises 2022. They ensure a comfortable dine and wine experience with an unlimited buffet and beverage package throughout the duration of the cruise, while you take in the views of the lively events from its vast outer decks. This makes the Australia Day cruises in Sydney Harbour a chief point of interest for people looking to spend valuable time with their families away from the busy crowds.

Anzac Day is a national day originally devised to remember the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served in their country's first major military campaign during the First World War. A typical ANZAC day in Australia takes two forms– honorary services which are held at dawn and commemorative ceremonies held later on during the day at war memorials throughout the nation, mostly by ex-servicemen and women. You can also see people wearing Rosemary on this occasion as they are of great significance to the relatives of the deceased. These plants were found on the war site and are also believed since ancient times, to hold some properties that improve memory.

National Sorry Day (May 26) is the most overlooked one that made it to this list and, although it's not a national holiday it holds great significance to the marginalized indigenous people of Australia. The day is a reminder to the colonial descendants about the mistreatment of the aboriginal people during the 20th century. Every year events such as Sorry Day flag-raising, morning teas or lunches, speeches from community leaders, statements from politicians, are often observed during the day. Take a few hours of your time to celebrate the contributions of the aboriginals in the field of medicine, music, law and medicine by learning more about them and basking in the richness of their culture.