Anzac Day
Anzac Day is observed on 25 April in Australia and New Zealand to commemorate the 1915 Gallipoli landing and honor military service and sacrifice.
Gallipoli campaign: The 1915–1916 Allied campaign to seize the Dardanelles and capture Constantinople, fought chiefly on the Gallipoli Peninsula. The campaign’s landing on 25 April 1915 established the date commemorated by Anzac Day.
Dawn service: A commemorative ceremony held at dawn, often featuring prayer, silence, wreath-laying, and military honors. Dawn services evoke the early hour of the Gallipoli landing and anchor the day’s observances.
Australian national identity: The shared ideas, symbols, and narratives through which Australians understand national belonging. Anzac Day has become a prominent setting for expressing and disputing Australian identity.
Armistice Day: The name originally given to 11 November commemorations of the 1918 armistice ending fighting on the Western Front. It commemorates the end of fighting, rather than the Gallipoli landing that defines Anzac Day.
Landing at Anzac Cove: The landing of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25 April 1915. This landing gave Anzac Day its founding event and name.
Last Post: A bugle call traditionally played at military funerals and commemorations for the dead. Its performance at Anzac ceremonies marks remembrance of those killed in service.
New Zealand national identity: The shared ideas, symbols, and narratives through which New Zealanders understand national belonging. Anzac remembrance connects New Zealand identity to military history and the partnership with Australia.
Memorial Day: A United States federal holiday honoring military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. It shares Anzac Day’s remembrance purpose but belongs to a different national history and calendar.
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps: The First World War army corps formed from Australian and New Zealand forces and known by the acronym ANZAC. The corps supplied the name and troops at the center of the commemoration.
Two-up: A traditional Australian gambling game in which two coins are tossed and players bet on the outcome. Playing two-up became a distinctive social custom associated with Anzac Day.