AUSTRALIA

Holidays National holidays include New Year's Day (January 1), Australia Day (26 January), Easter (Good Friday to Easter Monday), Anzac Day (or day of the commemoration of ex-combatants , April 25), the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II (second Monday in June), Christmas (25 December) and Boxing Day (December 26). Australia Day commemorates the arrival of the British in 1788. Captain Arthur Phillip brought a group of British convicts to this huge island. The city of Sydney grew from the penal colony founded by the first settlers. Aboriginals do not celebrate this holiday. On Anzac Day (Armed Forces of Australia and New Zealand), Australians celebrate the anniversary of the troops who landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey during WWI. On Anzac Day is honoring those who gave their lives for the country during the war. The Australians celebrate a warm Christmas, when summer holidays are accompanied by work and school. Among the unofficial holiday is the Day of Canberra, the third Monday in March, which celebrates the founding of Canberra, the capital of Australia. The Eight Hours Day, known as Labor Day was celebrated on varying dates depending on location. This festival commemorates the improvement of working conditions since the unions were able to limit the workday to eight hours, encouraging adequate rest and recreation among the population.