ANZAC Day marks the anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. Over more than a century it has grown from a wartime commemoration into one of the most important days in the Australian and New Zealand calendar.
This guide explains where the day came from, how its traditions developed and why it still resonates so strongly.
The origin in 1915
ANZAC stands for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose troops landed at what became ANZAC Cove on 25 April 1915. The campaign that followed was costly and ultimately unsuccessful.
Yet the courage and endurance shown by the troops became a powerful national story almost immediately.
How the traditions grew
Within a few years, 25 April was being marked with services and marches. The Dawn Service tradition, echoing the early-morning landing, became central over time.
The Last Post, the silence, the laying of wreaths and the words 'Lest we forget' are now familiar parts of the day.
What ANZAC Day means today
ANZAC Day now honours all who have served and died in war, not only those at Gallipoli. It is observed across Australia and New Zealand and at Gallipoli itself.
For many families, attending the Gallipoli service is a deeply personal act of remembrance.
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