Anzac Day

Australia is not open for business today.  Businesses, banks, the stock exchange are closed.  Most shops, cinemas, and places of entertainment are closed, at least for the morning; this is ANZAC Day, April the 25^th.

It is the day of commemoration for those who fought in wars, remembering those who died and those who returned home changed forever. 

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corp and is the name originally given to the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who were sent to the Gallipoli peninsula in the First World War to secure the peninsular for the Allied forces.  They landed at dawn on April 25^th 1915 and met fierce resistance.  At the end of the year they were evacuated -it was not a proud victory for the Allies but ultimately a military failure with heavy casualties and immense loss on both sides. 

It is remembered for the sacrifice and for the spirit of endurance through hardships, while supporting your friends; “mateship”.  This has become a part of the ANZAC legend and is often referred to as the ANZAC spirit.    

The day quickly became the national day of commemoration for all those lost in WWI and has continued over the years to include all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. As the Australian War Memorial website notes; “The spirit of ANZAC, with its human qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity.”

Traditionally there are dawn ceremonies at war memorials around the country.  At small towns in rural areas, in suburbs of big cities these ceremonies will include wreath laying, a period of silence, the sounding of the Last Post and the reciting of what is known as The Ode - the fourth stanza of a poem called the Fallen.  This verse reads;

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.

Marches of ex-servicemen and women and current members of the armed forces take places in towns and cities throughout Australia with thousands lining the streets in support and remembrance in the major cities. People wear a sprig of rosemary, traditionally a herb associated with remembering and especially poignant for ANZAC day as the herb is said to grow wild on the Gallipoli peninsular. 

For further information

PS  I once had some newcomers to Australia in a cultural training session ask if the holiday was related to biscuits as they had seen the ANZAC biscuits in the supermarket. Legend has it that biscuits of a similar recipe were made for soldiers by wives and sweethearts but the reality may be that the recipe was invented after the war and sold as a fund raiser for the RSL (Returned Services League) in Australia and the RSA (Returned Services Association) in New Zealand.  And they are yummy she says as she eats one while loading this blog!