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The Public Holidays in Australia

By: Move Forward

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Public holidays in Australia differ in number and timing. Each state in the country has its own set of holidays that are truly its own that others, like expats from the UK, do not have. All in all, there are many public holidays in Australia and often these are non-working holidays. Individuals that work on these days are given premiums for their services on these days.

The following are the recognized holidays throughout Australia:

Christmas Day, Proclamation Day or Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. These are the basic public holidays and these are festival days that are celebrated in the country. During this season though, there are still some businesses and enterprises that continue operating during these days.

Australia Day. This day commemorates the first day of the establishment of an English settlement in Australia in 1788 at Port Jackson. The celebration has been continuously done since 1808 and since 1960 is the day the Australian of the Year award is given to the deserving individual.

Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday. The period of Easter is celebrated as public holidays throughout Australia. Some states even include Easter Tuesday. The actual dates change each year as this is dependent on when Easter is celebrated.

ANZAC Day. April 25 is ANZAC day and is a public holiday. This day commemorates all the individuals who have sacrificed their lives in the many wars that the country has participated in throughout history.

The Queen’s Birthday. Even if there has been criticism as to the continued recognition of the UK monarchy in Australia, the historical significance of the Queen is still celebrated as her day every second Monday of June each year. The only place in Australia where it is not celebrated is in Western Australia, as the Foundation day is celebrated on the first Monday of June.

There are also a number of territory specific public holidays in Australia. These are the following:

Canberra Day. This is a holiday celebrated in the Australian Capital Territory which commemorates the official act of creating Canberra back in 1913. This public holiday is celebrated on the second Monday in March.

Melbourne Day. Every first Tuesday of November is the celebration of the day the Melbourne Cup. It is also the “Family and Community Day” and by edict of law, September 24 is the recognized public holiday.

Geelong Day. This is a celebration of the Australian love affair with horse racing. Every fourth Wednesday of October in Geelong in Victoria is the public holiday.

Queensland Day. Every June 6th is the date that the State of Queensland was established. Though it is not a public holiday, it is often commemorated and celebrated in the state.

Adelaide Cup Day. Every second Monday of March is the celebration of the Adelaide Cup day. This is another racehorse celebration day and has been done at the Morphetville Racecourse since 2006.

Foundation Day. This public holiday is celebrated each first Monday of June but the first of June is the official date.

Picnic Day. This is done each first Monday of August and is commemorated for the opening of Darwin’s railway, thus allowing individuals to go to the Adelaide River for a picnic.

There are many other public holidays in Australia resulting in long weekends. As previously stated, working on these days would earn a premium for the individual employee. Do remember, as advised in Australia Forum, “here are many different types of public holidays celebrated around Australia with significant differences from state to state.” This is just one of the perks in Australia, the land of the long weekends.

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

This article has been provided by Jose Marc Castro, the online editor at the Australia Forum - the primary community for people moving to Australia. The site also provides information and advice on matters such as Public holidays in Australia.

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