Public Holidays:
These are holidays in Australia. In casual contracts, we generally do not work on public holidays. If you are fortunate enough to work on a public holiday, your employer must pay you an additional 50% per hour.
National Public Holidays:
There are other public holidays depending on the states in which you will be based. Each state has its own public holidays that change each year. It can be a real headache to stay informed throughout the year when you are on a road trip, so we have prepared a summary of public holidays according to the states.
But what do these days correspond to?
Australia Day: Australia’s national day commemorates the arrival of Europeans in Australia on January 26, 1788. It has been a public holiday since 1946, where Australians celebrate national unity. On this national day, Australia goes all out. The festivities are widespread, including the Ferrython at Sydney’s Bridge Harbour, a competition for the most beautiful ferry that attracts thousands of spectators, accompanied by the Jazz on the Water festival. Darling Harbour’s celebration offers many activities for the whole family (picnics, regattas, light and sound shows), while Laidley’s celebration takes you back to the pioneer era. In addition to these events, there are fireworks that light up the sky all over the country. Australia Day is not only a day of celebration but also a way to remember the hardships and inequalities suffered by Aboriginal people since the arrival of Europeans in Australian soil.
Good Friday: Good Friday corresponds in the Christian calendar to the crucifixion of Jesus. It is a day to enjoy hot cross buns: delicious sweet buns with spices, filled with raisins and sometimes citrus zest. Each bun is decorated with a white cross that would represent the cross on which Jesus was crucified.
Easter Day: On Easter Sunday, which corresponds to the resurrection of Jesus and the day of the distribution of chocolate eggs. But in Australia, it’s not the bells that deposit the treats but the Easter bunny, which is gradually being replaced by the Easter bilby. It is also the day of the famous Easter bonnet parade. This Anglo-Saxon tradition involves parading through the streets wearing more or less original hats (decorated with rabbit ears, flowers, eggs) or costumes (rabbits, chickens).
Easter Monday: Easter Monday, which concludes this long weekend, is an opportunity to organize a large family meal; most often a barbecue, which is often the last of the year (at least for some regions). Along with Christmas Day, it is one of the few days of the year when all stores are closed! It is very surprising because the streets of major cities are completely deserted; it feels like ghost towns!
Anzac Day: ANZAC Day is a cornerstone of Australian culture. Commemorating veterans and Australian soldiers who fell for their country, it will be celebrated again this year from the comfort of one’s living room or on the sidewalk of one’s home. Every year, millions of Australians get up in the middle of the night to faithfully attend the ANZAC Day commemorations. The national ceremony will be broadcast live on television from 5 am in Australia.
Boxing Day: December 26, or Boxing Day, is also a very important day in Anglo-Saxon culture. The day after Christmas is a public holiday in Australia but also in England, New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada. Traditionally, servants had the day off, and artisan-traders went from house to house for gifts.