On Anzac Day, Australians all over the world pause to remember and honour the service and sacrifice of Australia’s servicemen and women in wars, conflicts and peace operations. Anzac commemoration ceremonies are held across the country and include dawn services, marches, social gatherings and citizen services.
Dawn services are a solemn Australian and New Zealand tradition. They are held at war memorials and public spaces and incorporate hymns, readings, the playing of the “The last post”, wreath laying, a minute of silence, “The rouse” or “The reveille”, and the National Anthem.
- The National Commemoration services take place in Canberra with the National Anzac Day Dawn Service taking place at 5:30am at the Parade Ground at the Australian War Memorial and the National Anzac Day Commemoration Ceremony taking place at 10:15am.
- All state and territory capital cities hold a dawn service and an ANZAC Day march.
- ‘Two Up’ is a traditional Australian gambling game that was an extremely popular pastime with Anzac soldiers. “Two-up” has become a regular feature of Anzac Day celebrations in pubs and in RSL clubs across Australia. The importance of this tradition is demonstrated that though most Australian states have laws forbidding gambling outside of designated licensed venues, on Anzac Day it is legal to play “two-up”.
- An Australian Rules football match is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between traditional Australian Football League rivals the Collingwood Magpies and Essendon Bombers on ANZAC day in celebration of the ANZAC spirit. The event has been a tradition since 1995.
(source:media.australia)
ANZAC means Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. On 25th April of each year, ANZAC Day which is also a National Day is commemorated by both Australia and New Zealand to honour the members of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli during the World War I. It is basically a tribute to those soldiers who died during the military operations for their countries.
In the year 1915, ANZAC or Australian and New Zealand Army Corps was formed to fight jointly in World War I. ANZSC set up their main target to capture the Constantinople, the capital of Ottoman Empire, who was an ally of Germany during the World War I. Lots of soldiers of ANZAC were died during the operation from both the countries. After this military operation, both the countries decided to commemorated ANZAC day every day to remember these soldiers and pays tributes to them. This day has a great importance for both the Countries.