When is ANZAC Day and why is it special to Australians?

Answer 1

ANZAC Day is not celebrated, but rather, commemorated.

Celebrate suggests a joyous remembrance of an event, such as a birthday or wedding anniversary. Commemorate means a solemn remembrance of a sad or tragic event, often one in which people died.

ANZAC Day is to commemorate the soldiers who have fallenin the name of defending their country. This is not something to celebrate with joy, but to commemorate with respect.

Answer 2

ANZAC Day is not celebrated: it is a day of commemoration.

ANZAC Day is commemirated in a variety of ways, but there are some common themes:

• singing of either, or sometimes both of the Australian and New Zealand National Anthems (Advance Australia Fair and God Defend New Zealand)
• prayer for the Queens and the Commonwealth, for the Nation and a prayer for peace
• incorporation of the symbols of ANZAC, e.g. Medals; Reverse Arms; Catafalque; Rosemary; Poppy/ Poziéres
• reading of the poems "For the Fallen" by Laurence Binyon and "In Flanders' Fields" by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
• Those gathered for the service repeat the last line of the final verse of "For the Fallen":

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

• A catafalque guard of honour around the war memorial, provided by Uniformed service personnel
• sometimes singing of war songs such as It's a Long Way toTipperary and Pack Up Your Troubles
• singing of hymns that remember the dead, such as "Abide With Me" and "Eternal father Strong to Save" (the latter being a mariners' hymn)
• laying of the ANZAC wreaths
• bugle renditions of The Last Post and Reveille
• One minute's silence

Schoolchildren incorporate other elements. For example, there is a song entitiled "The Last ANZAC", which is often sung at these assemblies. Literature relevant to the children may be read, such as selections from Lois Krok's "Letters from Gallipoli". School captains are also selected to attend more formal public commemorations.

Answer 3

ANZAC Day is named after the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, who landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, in World War I.

Marked with a public holiday in Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day commemorates the landing of the troops at Gallipoli on the Turkish Aegean coast, on 25 April 1915. Due to a navigational error, the ANZACs came ashore about a mile north of the intended landing point. Instead of facing the expected beach and gentle slope they found themselves at the base of steep cliffs, and completely vulnerable to the Turkish defenders. Of the 1500 men who waded ashore that first day, 755 remained in active service at the end of the day, with the remainder killed or wounded. Advance was impossible. After eight months of stalemate, the Allies withdrew from the peninsula, leaving about 8700 dead amongst the troops.

In Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day commemorations feature solemn "dawn services", a tradition started in Albany, Western Australia on 25 April 1923. These services are held at war memorials around both countries. Marches by veterans from all past wars are held in capital cities and towns nationwide. This is usually followed by social gatherings of veterans, hosted either in a pub or in an RSL Club, often including a traditional Australian gambling game called "two-up", which was an extremely popular past-time with ANZAC soldiers.

Answer 4

ANZAC is an acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (pronounced Core), the soldiers who landed at Gallipoli on the Turkish Aegean coast on 25 April 1915, in World War I.

ANZAC Day was originally a day of remembrance for the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who landed at Gallipoli on the 25th of April, 1915. The day commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of the thousands of men who died during the eight-month occupation of Gallipoli.

Subsequently, ANZAC Day has become a day of remembrancefor all Australian and New Zealand soldiers who gave their lives in all wars. In Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day commemorations feature solemn "dawn services", a tradition started in Albany, Western Australia on 25 April 1923. These services are held at war memorials around both countries. Marches by veterans and family members of those who have died in past wars are held in capital cities and towns nationwide, as Australians and New Zealanders honour our brave Defence Force personnel.

Answer 5

ANZAC is an acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (pronounced Core), the soldiers who landed at Gallipoli on the Turkish Aegean coast on 25 April 1915, in World War I.

ANZAC Day was originally a day of remembrance for the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who landed at Gallipoli on the 25th of April, 1915. The day commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of the thousands of men who died during the eight-month occupation of Gallipoli.

Subsequently, ANZAC Day has become a day of remembrancefor all Australian and New Zealand soldiers who gave their lives in all wars. In Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day commemorations feature solemn "dawn services", a tradition started in Albany, Western Australia on 25 April 1923. These services are held at war memorials around both countries. Marches by veterans and family members of those who have died in past wars are held in capital cities and towns nationwide, as Australians and New Zealanders honour our brave Defence Force personnel.

Answer 6

ANZAC Day is a day of solemn remembrance. It is commemorated in order to honour those in the defence forces who have lost their lives fighting for, or on behalf of, Australia and New Zealand. Although originally a day of remembrance for those troops in WWI who gave their lives in the campaign at Gallipoli, it has now extended to include those involved in all wars.

Answer 7

ANZAC is an acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (pronounced Core), the soldiers who landed at Gallipoli on the Turkish Aegean coast on 25 April 1915, in World War I. This event was a terrible mistake which resulted in the completely unnecessary deaths of thousands of soldiers. The continuation of the war on the peninsula showed the incredible bravery of the ANZAC troops under the most appalling conditions.

ANZAC Day was originally a day of remembrance for the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who landed at Gallipoli on the 25th of April, 1915. The day commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of the thousands of men who died during the eight-month occupation of Gallipoli.

Subsequently, ANZAC Day has become a day of remembrancefor all Australian and New Zealand soldiers who gave their lives in all wars. In Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day commemorations feature solemn "dawn services", a tradition started in Albany, Western Australia on 25 April 1923. These services are held at war memorials around both countries. Marches by veterans and family members of those who have died in past wars are held in capital cities and towns nationwide, as Australians and New Zealanders honour our brave Defence Force personnel.

Answer 8

ANZAC Day is commemorated on 25 April every year.

ANZAC Day was originally a day of remembrance for the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who landed at Gallipoli on the 25th of April, 1915. The day commemorates the bravery and sacrifice of the thousands of men who died during the eight-month occupation of Gallipoli.

Subsequently, ANZAC Day has become a day of remembrancefor all Australian and New Zealand soldiers who gave their lives in all wars. In Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day commemorations feature solemn "dawn services", a tradition started in Albany, Western Australia on 25 April 1923. These services are held at war memorials around both countries. Marches by veterans and family members of those who have died in past wars are held in capital cities and towns nationwide, as Australians and New Zealanders honour our brave Defence Force personnel.