Australia has several national holidays including Australia Day on January 26th, which commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet from Britain in 1788 and the raising of the Union Jack flag. Australia Day celebrations reflect modern Australia and include formal ceremonies, performances, sporting events and speeches. There are also efforts to incorporate indigenous Australian culture into ceremonies to promote shared national identity and values of inclusion.

1. Australian Holidays
Australia has both native and European holidays.
Examples of national Australian holidays:
– Australian Day – January 26
– ANZAC Day – April 25
– Queens Birthday – June 8
– Boxing Day – December 26
– New Years Day – January 1
– Good Friday – Friday after Easter
– Easter Monday – Day After Easter Sunday
– Christmas Day – December 25
Lets focus on the holiday Australian Day.

2. What is Australia Day?
• It is the biggest celebration in the country. It’s the anniversary of
the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Great
Britain, and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by its
commander Captain Arthur Phillip, in 1788.
• Today Australia Day celebrations reflect contemporary Australia. It
also is an opportunity to reflect on the nation's history, and to
consider how to make Australia a better place in future. It has
become a community day.

3. How Is It Celebrated?
• Formal ceremonies - flag • The modern population
raising, citizenship should incorporate the
ceremonies and the culture of the indeginous
presentation of important people in their
community awards ceremonies. Doing so
allows the wider
• Theatrical community to share in
performances, music, spo the native culture, and
rting events, speech promote a stronger sense
days, multicultural and of shared nationhood.
native performances This is an example of the
communication concept
‘Adapting to others’.

4. References
• Public holidays and school terms. (n.d) retrieved November 10
2011, from Australian Government Web Site:
http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/our-
country/public-holidays-and-school-
terms#NationalPublicHolidays
• Australia day. (n.d) retrieved November 8, 2011, from
http://www.australiaday.org.au/experience/page31.asp
• Indigenous Australia. (n.d) retrieved November 9, 2011, from
Australia Day Web Site:
http://www.australiaday.org.au/experience/page103.asp