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Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the resolution (end) of the First World War (the Armistice) on 11 November, 1918.

The following information can be found below:

A printable PDF of the information on this page is available in the right-hand column.

The First World War

World War I (WWI) was originally known as the Great War. It began in August 1914 when Britain and Germany went to war. Many countries, such as Australia and New Zealand (who formed the famous ANZACs), immediately declared their allegiance to Britain and joined the war. This partnership was known as the 'Allied Forces'.

The main nations in the Allied Forces were Britain, France and Russia. Later, they were supported by countries such as Canada and the United States. The Allied Forces fought the Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and the Ottoman Empire (Turkey).

During the four years of World War I, Australia was involved in some of history's most tragic conflicts (such as the famous landing at Gallipoli), and horrific battles on the Western Front (France and Belgium) and in the Middle East.

The Armistice

In 1918, after suffering a number of defeats and heavy losses, the German forces agreed to an armistice (a truce) with the Allied troops and this signalled the end of WWI. The treaty was signed at 5am on 11 November 1918, but did not officially come into effect until six hours later at 11am. The armistice was met by celebration around the world; people yelled, cheered and danced in the streets.

For this reason, Remembrance Day was originally called Armistice Day. In Australia, it was renamed in 1997. The name change broadened the meaning of the day, widening the focus from World War I, to a day which commemorates those who served in any war or conflict.

Remembrance Day traditions

A minute of silence

Every year, nations around the globe fall silent for one minute at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month to remember those who have served their country during war.

This practice stems from King George V's declaration on 6 November 1919 that people throughout the Commonwealth should suspend their normal activities so that in "perfect stillness the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the Glorious Dead".

A red poppy

The Flanders poppy was one of the first plants to grow on the blood-soaked battlefields of France and Belgium. In nineteenth century English poetry, poppies often symbolised sleep or oblivion. After WWI, silk poppies were sold on Armistice Day with proceeds going to a charity for French children and to the Returned Soldiers League (RSL).

A sprig of rosemary

Many people wear a sprig of rosemary on Remembrance Day and on ANZAC Day. Since ancient times this aromatic herb has been recognised as a sign of remembrance and loyalty. For Australians, rosemary is even more significant as this plant grows wild on the Gallipoli peninsula, serving as another reminder of the ANZAC troops who lost their lives there.

A flag at half-mast

On Remembrance Day, flags are flown at half-mast from 10.30am to 11.03am as a sign of mourning and respect. It is said that this tradition stems from sailing ships that lowered their sails at sea to honour an important person or mark a death.

There are a number of rules associated with flying the Australian flag at half-mast. The flag can never be flown at half-mast at night. If in a group of flags, all flags should be lowered to half-mast, however, Australia's should be lowered last and raised first.

The Unknown Soldier

Have you heard of the Unknown Soldier? The Unknown Soldier is intended to represent all men killed during war, especially those with no known resting place. The original Unknown Soldier was entombed at Westminster Abbey in London on Remembrance Day 1920. On the same day, France entombed an Unknown Soldier below the Arc de Triomphe.

It was not until Remembrance Day 1993 that Australia laid to rest an Unknown Soldier in the Hall of Memory at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. At his side was a bayonet and a golden sprig of wattle. The soldier was buried in a coffin made from Tasmanian Blackwood which was scattered with soil from the French battlefield, Pozières.

Modern pilgrimages

It is estimated that over 60,000 Australians died in the Great War, many of these have no known graves. This left the Western Front dotted with memorials and cemeteries commemorating the fallen. Many Australians travel to these locations, as well as others in Egypt and Turkey, to pay tribute to the events that occurred and to remember all who served and fell there.

In modern times, these pilgrimages have become increasingly popular around Remembrance Day and ANZAC Day. On these days, many locations, such as Gallipoli, Villers-Bretonneux and Bullecourt, hold special commemorative ceremonies. These ceremonies are made up of many traditional elements such as a parade, wreath laying, the Last Post (played on a bugle) and a minute of silence.

Remembrance Day fast facts

The word 'armistice' means a truce or peace arrangement. It comes from the Latin word 'arma', meaning arms and 'stitium', meaning 'a stopping', giving us the meaning: to put down your arms (weapons).

The famous poem In Flanders Fields that made the red poppy such an iconic symbol, was written by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McRae. It is said that it only took him 20 minutes to write and that afterwards he threw it in the trash (from which it was thankfully saved by a fellow soldier).

It was not just men who went to war. In World War I, many Australian women volunteered as cooks, drivers, interpreters and other skilled positions. Female nurses served in countries such as Egypt, France and Greece, often in dangerous conditions, close to the frontline where they were exposed to shelling.

World War I was the first armed conflict where aircraft were used. There were around 3000 Australian airmen who served with the Australian Flying Corps.

The conditions in WWI trenches were so horrifying that they gave their name to numerous ailments that occurred there. These include: 'Trench Foot' (a fungal foot infection), 'Trench Nephritis' (an inflammation of the kidneys) and 'Trench Fever' (a painful infection caused by lice).

It is estimated that the WWI trench system on the Western Front measured approximately 475 miles (764km) in length.

Rosemary is often worn on Remembrance Day. An old tale describes the Virgin Mary spreading her blue cloak over a flowering rosemary bush. The story says that the white flowers turned blue and from that day on the bush was called the 'Rose of Mary'.

Many countries (such as Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium and Poland) also observe Remembrance Day.

References

The following links will direct you to the homepage of the websites used as references for this topic.

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Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the resolution (end) of the First World War (the Armistice) on 11 November, 1918. The following information can be found below: A printable PDF of the information on this page is available in the right-hand column. World War I (WWI) was originally known as the Great War.

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Kids learn about the Reformation of the church during the Renaissance. What was it and who was Martin Luther?

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In Christianity, Reformation Day is a Protestant holiday celebrated in remembrance of the Reformation, ignited by Martin Luther, particularly by Lutheran churches and some Reformed church communities. Reformation Day is on October 31.

In 1516-1517, Johann Tetzel, a Dominican friar and papal commissioner for indulgences, was sent to Germany by the Roman Catholic Church to raise money to rebuild St Peter's Basilica in Rome. On October 31,1517, Martin Luther wrote to Albrecht, Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg, protesting against the sale of indulgences.

He enclosed in his letter a copy of his "Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences," which came to be known as The 95 Theses. Hans Hillerbrand writes that Luther had no intention of confronting the church, but saw his disputation as a scholarly objection to church practices, and the tone of the writing is accordingly "searching, rather than doctrinaire."

The History of Reformation Day

Hillerbrand writes that there is nevertheless an undercurrent of challenge in several of the theses, particularly in Thesis 86, which asks: "Why does the pope, whose wealth today is greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build the basilica of St. Peter with the money of poor believers rather than with his own money?"

Luther objected to a saying attributed to Johann Tetzel that "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory [also attested as 'into heaven'] springs." He insisted that, since forgiveness was God's alone to grant, those who claimed that indulgences absolved buyers from all punishments and granted them salvation were in error. Christians, he said, must not slacken in following Christ on account of such false assurances.

According to Philipp Melanchthon, writing in 1546, Luther "wrote theses on indulgences and posted them on the church of All Saints on 31 October 1517", an event now seen as sparking the Protestant Reformation. Some scholars have questioned Melanchthon's account, since he did not move to Wittenberg until a year later and no contemporaneous evidence exists for Luther's posting of the theses.

Others counter that such evidence is unnecessary because it was the custom at Wittenberg university to advertise a disputation by posting theses on the door of All Saints' Church, also known as "Castle Church".

The 95 Theses were quickly translated from Latin into German, printed, and widely copied, making the controversy one of the first in history to be aided by the printing press. Within two weeks, copies of the theses had spread throughout Germany; within two months throughout Europe.

Luther's writings circulated widely, reaching France, England, and Italy as early as 1519. Students thronged to Wittenberg to hear Luther speak. He published a short commentary on Galatians and his Work on the Psalms. This early part of Luther's career was one of his most creative and productive. Three of his best-known works were published in 1520: To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church, and On the Freedom of a Christian.

History of the Observance of Reformation Day

The parish order for the New Church in Regensburg states that the Reformation of the city is to be observed the first Sunday after October 15, every year. This document may be from 1567, however the dating is uncertain.

The 1569 church order in Pomerania states that the Reformation was to be observed on St. Martin's Day, which falls on November 11. The hundredth anniversary of the Reformation, celebrated throughout the Protestant areas of Germany, was observed from October 31 to November 1, 1617, but a standard annual observance began much later, sometime after the two hundredth anniversary commemoration in 1717.

Reformation Day and the Lutheran Church

"I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach..." This passage, traditionally interpreted as referring to Luther, is commonly the text preached on during Reformation Day services.

Within the Lutheran church, Reformation Day is considered a lesser festival, and is officially referred to as The Festival of the Reformation. Until the 20th century, most Lutheran churches celebrated Reformation Day on October 31, regardless of which day of the week it occurred. Today, most Lutheran churches transfer the festival, so that it falls on the Sunday (called Reformation Sunday) on or before October 31 and transfer All Saints' Day to the Sunday on or after November 1.

The liturgical color of the day is red, which represents the Holy Spirit and the Martyrs of the Christian Church. Luther's hymn, A Mighty Fortress is our God is traditionally sung on this day. It is also traditional in some Lutheran schools for schoolchildren to hold Reformation Day plays or pageants that re-enact scenes from the life of Martin Luther.

The fact that Reformation Day coincides with Halloween may not be mere coincidence. Halloween, being the Eve of All Saints' Day might have been an entirely appropriate day for Luther to post his 95 Theses against indulgences since the castle church would be open on All Saints' Day specifically for people to view a large collection of relics. The viewing of these relics was said to promise a reduction in time in purgatory similar to that of the purchase of an indulgence.

References

"Reformation Day" (Wikipedia, used under GFDL with minor edits). >

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In Christianity, Reformation Day is a Protestant holiday celebrated in remembrance of the Reformation, ignited by Martin Luther, particularly by Lutheran churches and some Reformed church communities. Reformation Day is on October 31. In 1516-1517, Johann Tetzel, a Dominican friar and papal commissioner for indulgences, was sent to Germany by the Roman Catholic Church to raise money to rebuild St Peter's Basilica in Rome.

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Memorial to the victims of the terrorist attack in Kuta, Bali 2002. | the Polynational War Memorial

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This memorial was erected after the terrorist attacks that killed 202 people in the town Kuta on Bali in 2002.

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The Queen's Birthday is a public holiday celebrated in most states and territories on the second Monday in June, making for a much-looked-forward-to June long weekend. In 2018, the Queen's Birthday is on 11 June in most states, with WA celebrating on 24 September and Queensland on 1 October.

Most viewed holidays today:

In Western Australia, the governor proclaims the holiday either at the end of September or the beginning of October each year because the June public holiday slot is given to Western Australia Day (formerly Foundation Day). In South Australia, the Queen's Birthday holiday is also called Volunteer's Day.

Queen Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states and the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. She was born on 21 April 1926 but her birthday is celebrated on a separate date. She has been Queen since 1952 and is now the longest reigning British monarch in history, the second-longest being Queen Victoria who reigned for 63 years.

In Britain, the monarch's birthday has been celebrated since 1748 and, in Australia, every year since the First Fleet arrived in 1788. The birthday was always celebrated on the actual date of the monarch's birthday until 1936, the year of the death of King George V, Elizabeth's grandfather. His birthday was 3 June and the date has since stayed around early June.

The following is a newspaper article from the Sydney Morning Herald, 26 May 1937 that records the change:

The Premier (Mr. Stevens) said last night that the celebration of King's Birthday, including levees, flying of flags, etc., would take place this year on June 9, which would be known as King's Day...

... The Acting Prime Minister (Dr. Page) announced... that Wednesday, June 9, had been fixed for the official celebration of his Majesty's birthday in the United Kingdom this year, and that this day would be observed in Australia for celebrations usually associated with the King's birthday. It had been arranged to fly flags on Commonwealth Government buildings throughout Australia onJune 9, and it was hoped that the general public would follow the same practice.

Honour's Lists are proclaimed twice a year in Australia. The Australia Day list is on 26 January. The Queen's Birthday Honour's List is proclaimed on the June date each year. The Honour's List includes people who have received the Order of Australia and other special honours including the Conspicuous Service Cross, Conspicuous Service Medal, the Public Service Medal, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Medal for Gallantry and, amongst others, commendations for Gallantry and Distinguished Service.

The Royal Military Academy at Duntroon holds the Queen's Birthday Parade each year - one of its most important public events - which includes the Trooping of the Queen's Colour. The Queen's Colour was trooped for the first time in 1956, and has been every year since at the Birthday Parade. The Trooping of Colour in Australia has its' origins in the same ceremony held in the United Kingdom.

Football also features on the Queen's Birthday. Since it's first season in 1897, the Victorian Football League (now the Australian Football League - AFL) has always played football on the holiday. Since 2001, the AFL has scheduled its fixtures to only allow Collingwood to play Melbourne at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the Monday. It is a big event that can trace the two teams playing on this date back to 1958 when just under 100,000 people attended the game.

The Queen's Birthday long weekend is also the official start of the snow season in the high country regions of New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania.

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Queen's Birthday 2018 and 2019 - PublicHolidays.com.au

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733 shares The Queen's Birthday is a public holiday celebrated in most states and territories on the second Monday in June, making for a much-looked-forward-to June long weekend. In 2018, the Queen's Birthday is on 11 June in most states, with WA celebrating on 24 September and Queensland on 1 October.

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The Queen's Birthday is an Australian public holiday but the date varies across states and territories. Australia celebrates this holiday because it is a constitutional monarchy, with the English monarch as head of state.

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Fathers' Day was created in the United States in the early 20th century to complement Mother's Day in celebrating fatherhood and male parenting. Most countries celebrate Fathers' Day on the third Sunday of June, although some countries celebrate it on other days. Keep reading for more Fathers' Day facts.

Most people agree that the celebration of Fathers' Day began in the United States. Today, the holiday is recognized in 52 countries.

The idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington.

A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909.

The following year, Dodd began the tradition of wearing a red rose to signify a living father and a white rose to honor a deceased one. She wanted to honor her father who had raised his children while being a single parent.

Sonora's father was born in June, so that is why she selected June to be the month when the holiday would occur.

This holiday honors men that have had a paternal influence in someone's life....fathers, grandfathers, step-fathers, uncles.

In 1926, a National Father's Day Committee was formed in New York City. Father's Day was recognized by a Joint Resolution of Congress in 1956.

In 1972, President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June.

It is celebrated on the third Sunday of June in many countries, including the United States.

Fathers' Day is not as big a retail bonanza as Mothers' Day, especially with the flower industry.

Father's Day Worksheets

This bundle contains 10 ready-to-use Father's day Worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Father's Day and its origins.

Download includes the following worksheets

Father's Day Word Search

Fact or Bluff

Word Scramble

Historical Ladder

What is the Meaning of Being a Father?

My Father, My Hero

Father's Day Collage

My Father's Day Story

Father's Day All Over the World

Father's Day Acrostic

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Fathers' Day Facts & Worksheets | KidsKonnect

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Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version Download sample Fathers' Day was created in the United States in the early 20th century to complement Mother's Day in celebrating fatherhood and male parenting. Most countries celebrate Fathers' Day on the third Sunday of June, although some countries celebrate it on other days.

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August 5th is your chance to help the Children's Medical Research Institute cure childhood diseases by donning your best denim, we take a look at exactly why that research is so vital.

On the first Friday of August every year, Australia is awash with denim as every day folk, at their schools and workplaces, raise funds to help the Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI) fight and cure the genetic diseases and birth defects that affect one in 20 children born here.

One in 20. That's a lot, right? And many more develop epilepsy or cancer. There's a good chance that you reading this, or someone you are close to, has experienced the uncertainty that having a child not quite as healthy as expected brings. Knowing a family impacted by that uncertainty really drives home just how just how vital those research dollars are.

"It was a mother's intuition, I knew something was different with my baby girl"

When Bec Collins was blessed with twins, Ruby and Riley in 2012, it almost immediately apparent to her that Ruby was different.

"Ruby had an asymmetrical body. Her right leg and foot was significantly longer than her left side. She also resembled an alien. She had a tiny body and a large head," Bec says.

For six months Bec had no answers, and it was at the Ruby's sixmonth checkup, that her doctor advised Bec that her daughter may have Russell Silver Syndrome (RSS), a genetic disorder in which a person fails to grow and gain weight at the expected rate, common physical traits include elfish features.
Bec noticed that Ruby was different from her twin brother, Riley almost immediately
The diagnosis was later dismissed by doctors at her yearly checkup, as Ruby had shown signs of height growth since her last checkup. However, one and a half years later, Ruby was officially diagnosed with Russell Silver Syndrome.

"It was a mother's intuition, I knew something was different with my baby girl. But there was next to no information on RSS, so the diagnosis wasn't necessarily a relief because a lot of doctors haven't heard of the syndrome," Bec says.

"There just isn't enough information out there,"

Bec moved her children to Sydney to be closer to family, but says meeting with doctors who know about RSS has proven to be an uphill battle.

"I've communicated with several Australian families with children suffering from RSS who I've come into contact with via Facebook, and even created my own awareness page, but there just isn't enough information out there. That has been my biggest problem," she said.

Ruby continues to receive regular doctor's checkups, but has trouble walking fast due to her asymmetrical ￼￼￼body. A​s there is an obvious gap in research about RSS, Ruby's treatment process is ongoing with continual checkins with specialists.

This allows her doctors to keep an eye on her progress and monitor any changes during her development. So far, Ruby has defied the odds - growing 8 centimetres in six months. This is an indication she might not need growth hormones, but Bec says it will all become clearer in time.

The future for Ruby is uncertain

Ruby is the exact reason that the CMRIs work is so vital. With doctors anticipating several surgeries on the horizon, including leg lengthening surgery, a jaw extension and several teeth surgeries to accommodate for Ruby's adult teeth.

Bec describes her only daughter has a "happygolucky child who can be shy around people she doesn't know".

"Ruby is aware she's smaller than other kids, and often makes friends with those who are smaller than her," says Bec.

She's on track to start school next year, but Bec says her daughter will be monitored closely this year to confirm she's ready.

"She's a delight. I often have people coming up to me to tell me how cute she is,"

How you can help

Research by the CMRI's has significantly improved the survival rate of kids all over the world as they research better treatments and diagnostic tools for cancer, congenital disorders and other childhood diseases.

You can get involved by joining in your school or workplace's Jeans for Genes event, or you can donate.
Text 'jeans' to 1997 6484 to instantly donate $5 per sms and help Jeans for Genes cure childhood diseases.
Or:
Donate via the website HERE

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Help fight childhood cancer - just by getting dressed

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August 5th is your chance to help the Children's Medical Research Institute cure childhood diseases by donning your best denim, we take a look at exactly why that research is so vital.

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declaration of independence facts for kids

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who signed the declaration of independence

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how many people signed the declaration of independence

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what year was the declaration of independence signed

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Why Do We Celebrate the Fourth of July? 4th of July Facts for Kids

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July 4th is Independence Day or also known as America's birthday in the United States. We celebrate the 4th of July because it represents the day that America became separate from British rul...

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The Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress on 4th of July, 1776 - now known as Independence Day - and every year Americans' honors the birthday of the United States of America on the Fourth of July. For more fascinating facts on this historic event, see the fact file below.

On the 4th of July, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress.

Independence Day honors the birthday of the United States of America and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

The Declaration of Independence was actually a letter to King George that had been written on July 2 by Thomas Jefferson. It was a formal explanation of why the Continental Congress voted to declare independence from Great Britain. It was meant to justify a revolt against the British, with a list of charges against the British king.

The main problem is that the colonists were angry they were being taxed by the Bristish government, and they had no vote or voice in the decisions that affected them.

The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 men representing the 13 colonies. The moment the declaration was signed it marked the beginning of all-out war against the British.

The first signature on the Declaration of Independence was John Hancock's. The myth is that he wrote his name large so that Kind George would be able to read it without his glasses.

Three U.S. presidents actually died on July 4. Two of them passed away within hours of each other on July 4, 1826: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. These two men had been political rivals and then friends later in life. The other President was James Monroe, who died July 4, 1831. One US President, Calvin Coolidge, was born on July 4.

In 1870 the Congress made the 4th of July an unpaid holiday for federal employees. In 1941, Congress declared 4th of July a paid federal holiday.

The first public Fourth of July event at the White House occurred in 1804. The first Independence Day celebration west of the Mississippi occurred at Independence Creek and was celebrated by Lewis and Clark in 1805.

Today, the 4th of July is a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks, and a reason to fly the American flag.

Additional Fast Facts about the Fourth of July

Since 1846, the Liberty Bell has not been rung every 4th of July due to possible damage.

There were 8 signers of the Declaration of Independence who came from Britain.

The Philippines, a country in southeast Asia celebrates the 4th of July as the Filipino-American Friendship Day since 1963 after its liberation.

Edward Rutledge was the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence at the age of 26 while Benjamin Franklin, 70 years old as the oldest.

The Pennsylvania Evening Post was the first newspaper to print the Declaration of Independence document.

Two of the US national symbols were made abroad: Statue of Liberty from France and the Liberty Bell from England.

Fourth of July Worksheets

This bundle contains 19 ready-to-use 4th of July Worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about this historic date in US history and the people, places and events that led to the forming of this great nation.

Download includes the following worksheets

Founding Fathers

The Original Thirteen Colonies

US Presidents

Color Red or Blue

The American Flag

Independence Day Acrostics

America's National Symbols

4th of July Word Search

Born on the 4th of July

Battle to Independence Crossword

All About Hancock

Dating Calendar

Across the World

Women Freedom Fighters

The Declaration of Independence

Pictionary

Filipino-American Friendship Day

Poster Making

What Freedom Means to Me

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Fourth of July (4th July) Facts, Worksheets & History For Kids

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Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version Download sample The Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress on 4th of July, 1776 - now known as Independence Day - and every year Americans' honors the birthday of the United States of America on the Fourth of July.

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France celebrates Bastille Day on - it's like Independence Day in the US but this day remembers the end of the and the beginning of the French Revolution. This is when a large group of people in France rebelled against their king and queen.

Behind the French Revolution

The French had good reason to rebel. The corrupt king and queen's actions were causing the poor to go hungry and the wealthy, middle-class merchants and businessmen were tired of not having thier concerns heard. By the late 1780s, people in France were fed up and so they began speaking out and met in groups to demand that be made. King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette tried to quiet everyone, but the citizens eventually rebelled.

Happy Bastille Day!

Prison Storming

The Bastille was a prison in Paris where the king and queen usually locked up people who didn't agree with their decisions. To a lot of French, the Bastille prison was a symbol of the corrupt system run by the monarchy. On July 14, 1789 the French Revolution began when a large group stormed the Bastille. The Revolution lasted for 10 years and brought some great changes (along with many deaths). While democracy wasn't established for several decades, the Revolution served as a turning point for how France was governed. In 1880, nearly 100 years after the storming, Bastille Day became a national holiday. Today, most locals in France have festive dances and big firework displays on Bastille Eve and on Bastille Day there are parades, bands and more dancing!

Bastille Day fireworks in Paris!

Did You Know?

Bastille comes from the French word bastide, which means stronghold.

France's tricolor flag (blue, red and white) was introduced during the Revolution. The three colors represent the ideals of the French people - liberty, equality and fraternity for all citizens.

When the prison was stormed on July 14th there were only seven prisoners left in the Bastille.

Have you heard about the Man in the Iron Mask? He was a Bastille prisoner from 1698 to 1703.

The famous philosopher and writer, Voltaire, was also a prisoner of the Bastille.

Bastille Day military parade

Have Your Say

What do you do to celebrate Bastille Day? Let us know!

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France celebrates Bastille Day on - it's like Independence Day in the US but this day remembers the end of the and the beginning of the French Revolution. This is when a large group of people in France rebelled against their king and queen. The French had good reason to rebel.

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July 14 is Bastille Day, the French Independence Day. It was on this day in 1789 that an angry mob stormed the Bastille prison and released political prisoners and gained weapons in the name of independence from the absolute monarchy of King Louis XVI.

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What is Freedom Day?

South Africa celebrates Freedom Day each year on 27th April, marking the anniversary of the day in 1994 when the country held its first ever all-race, democratic election, ending decades of sanctioned racial oppression under the apartheid system.

What does Freedom Day mean for South Africa?

The South African government's official website says Freedom Day is significant because it "marks the end of over three hundred years of colonialism, segregation and white minority rule and the establishment of a new democratic government led by Nelson Mandela and a new state subject to a new constitution."

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Freedom Day: What is it, what does it mean for South Africa, and how are people celebrating?

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South Africa celebrates Freedom Day each year on 27th April, marking the anniversary of the day in 1994 when the country held its first ever all-race, democratic election, ending decades of sanctioned racial oppression under the apartheid system.

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27 April commemorates the day in 1994 when the first democratic election was held in South Africa. Today, South Africa celebrates Freedom Day to mark the liberation of our country and its people from a long period of colonialism and White minority domination ( apartheid).

Apartheid 'officially' began in South Africa in 1948, but colonialism and oppression of the African majority had plagued South Africa since 1652. After decades of resistance, a stalemate between the Liberation Movement and the Apartheid government was reached in 1988.

The ANC, South African Communist Party (SACP), Pan African Congress (PAC) and other organisations were later unbanned on 2 February 1990, and a non-racial constitution was eventually agreed upon and adopted in 1993. On 27 April 1994, the nation finally cast its vote in the first democratic election in the country. The ANC was then voted into power, and Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the President of South Africa on 10 May.

It is important to note however, that "freedom" should mean emancipation from poverty, unemployment, racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination. We are 15 years into our new democracy and many of these issues are still rife in our country. We are still a long way away from solving many of the legacies of Apartheid and now face new challenges, like the growing inequality among South Africans and political and economic instability in the region caused by a new elite who are interested in pursuing their own interests.

Freedom Day therefore serves as a reminder to us that the guarantee of our freedom requires us to remain permanently vigilant against corruption and the erosion of the values of the Freedom Struggle and to build an active citizenry that will work towards wiping out the legacy of racism, inequality and the promotion of the rights embodied in our constitution.

Further reading: Freedom day, 27 April

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Freedom Day is celebrated in South Africa

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27 April commemorates the day in 1994 when the first democratic election was held in South Africa. Today, South Africa celebrates Freedom Day to mark the liberation of our country and its people from a long period of colonialism and White minority domination (apartheid).

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Republic Day, also known as Festa della Repubblica in Italian (Festival of the Republic), is a national holiday in Italy on June 2 each year. It celebrates the day when Italians voted to abolish the monarchy in 1946 so their country could become a republic.

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We deliver various activities within the City of Melbourne such as:

ADA Sports Festival has been celebrated at the Huddle (2013) and JJ Holland Park (2014);

Africa's Got Talent (AGT) held at the North Melbourne Town Hall (2013), Kensington Town Hall (2016) and Deakin Edge, Federation Square (2018);

Families and Youth forums held at Melbourne Uni (2013 and 2014), RMIT (2015) and Library at the Docks in 2018.

ADA Gala Dinner which has been held at the North Melbourne Town Hall (2013) and the Docklands Peninsula (2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018)

Each of these events has a diverse range of attendees that are not necessarily African, but include many people from different cultural backgrounds thus fostering community harmony and cohesion.

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Africa Day is celebrated annually on 25 May to commentate the organisation of African Unity. Please join our vibrant celebrations here in Melbourne. Africa Day is the annual commemoration of the 1963 founding of the African Union (AU) which is celebrated in Africa and many countries around the world. It

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Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version Download sample

Mother's Day is a modern celebration that started in North America to honor one's own mother, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on different days in various parts of the world, but usually falls in March or May.
See the fact file below for more information on the Mother's Day or alternatively, you can download our 19-page Mother's Day worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information

ANCIENT ORIGINS

Festivals honouring mothers can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans as they celebrated mother goddesses Cybele, Rhea, and Hilaria.

For centuries, Christians celebrated Mothering Sunday, while the Hindus revered Mata Tirtha Aunsi, which means Mother Pilgrimage of Fortnight.

Christians in England traditionally celebrated Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This was the time of the year for families to visit their mother church or cathedral church. Mothering Sunday also came to be known as Refreshment Sunday. Aside from visiting churches, Christians also associate this day to Simnel cake, a two layer fruit cake topped with 11 balls of marzipan icing signifying the disciples of Christ (excluding Judas).

Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.
John 6:10-12

MODERN ORIGIN AND CELEBRATION

The United States celebration of Mother's Day dates back to the 19th century. Julia Ward Howe was the first person to suggest the observance of a Mother's Day in 1872. The day was dedicated to peace. She held an annual meeting for several years in the city of Boston, Massachusetts for this observance.

Howe wrote the "Mother's Day Proclamation" in 1870 as a call for mothers to promote world peace. After three years, she campaigned for the observance of Mother's Peace Day.

In 1887, Mary Towles Sasseen, a Kentucky school teacher, began conducting Mother's Day celebrations and in 1904, Frank E. Hering of South Bend, Indiana began a campaign for the observance of Mother's Day. However, it wasn't until Anna Jarvis, of West Virginia, began a nationwide campaign for its observance that the idea took root.

Woodrow Wilson signed a joint resolution of Congress recommending the observance of Mother's Day by executive branches of the government on May 9, 1914. The following year, Mother's Day was designated an annual national observance.

Mother's Day is a day set aside to express love, respect and thanks to mothers. The day is observed by giving gifts, visiting, or taking mothers out for dinner and celebrations.

Many other countries of the world celebrate their own Mother's Day at different times throughout the year. Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Belgium also celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May, as in the U.S.

In Thailand, Mother's Day is celebrated in August coinciding the birthday of their current queen, Sirikit.

In Ethiopia, this day is celebrated with large feasting and singing as part of Antrost, a festival honouring motherhood.

In Brazil, Mother's Day is the second most commercialized holiday, followed by Christmas. Communal church gathering and feasting is traditionally done during this day.

In Germany, Muttertag usually takes place every Second Sunday in May unless it falls on Pentecost. Giving of Mother's Day cards is the most popular gesture on this day.

Australians traditionally give carnations, chrysanthemums, and other flowers on Mother's Day.

Napoleon Bonaparte originally declared Fete des Meres as a holiday in France, but was only made official in 1950.

In Serbia, Mother's Day is celebrated in December, along with Father's Day and Children's Day.

Mother's Day Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Mother's Day across 19 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Mother's Day worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Mother's Day which is a modern celebration that started in North America to honor one's own mother, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on different days in various parts of the world, but usually falls in March or May.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

Mother's Day Facts

A Letter to Mom

For Mother's Day

Second Week of May

Worldwide Celebration

All About Mom

A Haiku for You

Picking Flowers

Sending My Love

A Little Gift

Our Own Mother's Day

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Mother's Day start?

Anna Jarvis is responsible for Mother's Day. After her mother died in 1905, Anna wanted to celebrate all mothers and their sacrifices.

What does Mother's Day mean?

Mother's Day is a special day to celebrate mothers and all they do for us. It is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world, but most commonly in March or May.

What flower symbolizes Mother's Day?

Carnations are a traditional gift for Mother's Day in many cultures. They represent the deep and enduring love that mothers have for their children.

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Mother's Day Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, April 28, 2025
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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Mother's Day Facts, Worksheets & Time Of Year For Kids

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Mother's Day is a modern celebration that started in North America to honor one's own mother. Click for more facts or worksheets.

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King's Day is when the Dutch celebrate the birthday of their king. King Willem Alexander was born on 27 April and so there are many parties, flea markets and, of course, the king himself visits one or several cities with his family.

Put on your best orange outfit.

Visit one of the many free markets.

Toast to the king with an Oranjebitter.

From Princess' Day to King's Day

Originally, Princess' Day was celebrated in Holland on Wilhelmina's birthday (31 August), when she was still a princess. The feast involved many children's games and decorated streets. When Wilhelmina became the new queen after her father's death, it was changed to Queen's Day.

Juliana, the next queen and Wilhelmina's daughter, celebrated Queen's Day on 30 April with a parade on Soestdijk. Beatrix also celebrated Queen's Day on 30 April (her own birthday is in January) but contrary to her mother, she took her entire family and travelled around the country to visit several municipalities. King Willem Alexander has followed in this tradition. He was born on 27 April and this became the official King's Day in 2014.

Orange

The Dutch royal family bears the name: House of Oranje. This literally means the colour orange. As a result it has become Holland's national color. On King's Day people wear orange clothes, often even donning orange wigs or make-up.

Flea markets

On King's Day, people are allowed to sell things on the street without requiring a permit. Flea ('free') markets are held in parks and streets, with many people offering their unwanted possessions, music or other entertainment for sale. In Utrecht, the flea markets even start the night before King's Day.

Orange Bitter

A feast requires a toast. On King's Day, the people make a toast to the king with Orange Bitter, a bright orange liqueur. The drink was created in 1620 to celebrate Prince Fredrick Henry's victory. Initially it was not well-known but after William of Orange became the first king, it was produced once more. Since then, Orange Bitter has been closely associated with the Dutch royal family.

Spending the night

King's Day is a feast that you should really experience for yourself. Book a hotel well in advance because they fill up quickly. Check out the best hotels here.

Editors' tip: Search just outside the cities for great offers.

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King's Day is when the Dutch celebrate the birthday of their king. King Willem Alexander was born on 27 April and so there are many parties, flea markets and, of course, the king himself visits one or several cities with his family. Put on your best orange outfit.

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King's Day or Koningsdag (formerly Queen's Day) is a national holiday in the Netherlands. Celebrate amongst parties, live music and markets all around Amsterdam.

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ANZAC Day is one of Australia's most important national holidays. is the anniversary of the first major battle fought by Australia and New Zealand during . They celebrate it just like we celebrate Veterans and Remembrance Day.

A Brief History

ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers who fought for these countries were known as ANZACs. A year after World War I broke out, the ANZACs set out to capture the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey so Allied navies could get to the Black Sea. When they landed at Gallipoli on April 25th, the Allies couldn't defeat the Turkish who were defending the area. For eight months the two groups battled it out. By the end of 1915, both sides in the war had suffered thousands of casualties and the Allies withdrew from Gallipoli.

Soldiers at the battle at Gallipoli

How It's Observed

Services are held at dawn, which is the same time the ANZACs landed in . Later in the day, men and women who served in different wars march throughout cities and towns and ceremonies are held at war memorials around the two countries.

Anzac Day service held at dawn

Did You Know?

What some people don't know is that all the men who fought during the eight-month battle at Gallipoli, including the 8,000 who died, were all volunteers. In other countries, soldiers were drafted (there was a mandatory sign-up) to fight in the war.

ANZAC Day is also observed in the Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga.

There is a city called Gallipoli within the Gallipoli Peninsula but visitors to the area often stay in other towns close by like the ancient City of Troy.

The last-known Australian surivor of the Battle of Gallipoli, Alec Campbell, died in May 2002.

Anzac Day commemorates Australian and New Zealand soldiers

Have Your Say

Do you celebrate ANZAC Day? Let us know in the comments section below

Related Stories

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ANZAC Day is one of Australia's most important national holidays. is the anniversary of the first major battle fought by Australia and New Zealand during . They celebrate it just like we celebrate Veterans and Remembrance Day. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

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ANZAC Day occurs on 25 April every year. On this day we again remember and honour all Australians who have served in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations around the world, including the ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. Incredibly, more than 100 years have passed since Australia's involvement in the First World War.

The following information about ANZAC Centenary can be found below:

A printable PDF of the information on this page is available in the right-hand column.

ANZAC Centenary

The ANZAC Centenary (from 2014 to 2018) commemorates Australia's involvement in World War I and remembers anyone who has served in a war or conflict as well as those men and women still serving in the Defence Forces today.

It was on 1 November 1914 that the first convoy of Australian and New Zealand ships left Albany in Western Australia to transport the ANZACs to the battlefields of World War I.

When most people think of the ANZACs, they think about the infamous landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. The 100th anniversary of this moment was commemorated with many events around Australia and around the world.

On 25 April 2015 the traditional Dawn Service at Gallipoli was attended by more than 8000 Australians, 2000 New Zealanders and 500 official representatives from other Nations, forming a 10,500 strong crowd on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey.

In Australia, the five years of the Centenary will be filled with air shows, art awards, marathons, exhibitions, parades and much more.

Communities all over Australia will remember, record and retell some of the millions of stories and events that Australians experienced during World War I.

2018 commemorations

The final year of World War I (1918) saw the German military attempt one final large-scale offensive on the Western Front. They nearly succeeded, but the Allies continued to achieve victories and by the second half of the year, the German Army could no longer continue fighting.

There are three events from that final year that will be commemorated in 2018.

Battle of Villers-Bretonneux (April 1918)

On 24 April 1918, the German troops had captured Villers-Brettoneux (near Amiens) from the exhausted British soldiers. This was a major problem as the Germans were now pushing towards the town of Amiens.

The job of re-capturing Villers-Brettoneux was given to the Australian 13th and 14th Brigades (part of the 4th and 5th Divisions). They came up with a simple, yet dangerous, plan to surprise the Germans with an attack at night. They placed troops on all sides of the town and the attack began at 10 pm. By the next morning (with some assistance from British troops) the Australians had the town surrounded and it was completely recaptured by 26 April.

Battle of Hamel (July 1918)

The town of Hamel was an important location in the war as it would allow Allied troops to move between, capture and defend many other key positions. It would also stop the Germans from moving forward.

The job of capturing this town was given to the Australians and the operations launched on 4 July. Interestingly, the Australians had support from American soldiers (it was the first time they had been part of such an attack in World War I). The Hamel attack was a success and only took around two hours to complete, although Australia suffered 1,062 casualties including 800 deaths.

First World War Armistice (November 1918)

An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting, and at around 5 am on 11 November 1918 an agreement was signed by all parties to end World War I. This agreement was to take effect at 11 am that same day (the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month). This agreement was a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany.

News of the armistice spread throughout the world via radio broadcasts and newspapers. In many cities there was cheering and dancing in the streets, but for the soldiers there was silence and a feeling of exhaustion after 52 months of war.

Today, we commemorate this event on Remembrance Day and observe one minute's silence at 11 am on 11 November.

World War I

World War I was a defining period in Australian history. Taking place only 13 years after the federation of Australia, it was one of the first major international conflicts in which our young nation had been involved.

World War I began in August 1914 when Britain and Germany declared war on each other. In the same year, Australia followed Britain into war when both the Prime Minister Joseph Cook, and the Opposition Leader Andrew Fisher, declared Australia's support for Britain. At that time 416,809 men enlisted to fight for Australia. Of these men, over 60,000 were killed and 152,000 were injured. One of the most significant events of World War I for Australians was the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli in Turkey.

Gallipoli

Of all the events in Australia's history, the battle at Gallipoli in World War I stands out as having defined the spirit of our nation.

Although Gallipoli represents different things to different people, the story of the ANZACs who fought at Gallipoli is one of perseverance and courage in the face of failure and despair.

After four months of training in Egypt, the ANZAC troops left for Gallipoli. At dawn on 25 April 1915 they landed at a beach now known as ANZAC Cove. The landing was nightmarish; the beach was at the bottom of a steep slope, meaning that the ANZACs had a tough and dangerous struggle to climb up the beach as the well-organised Turkish troops rained shells and gunfire down onto them from the top of the cliff.

Here is the failure and the legend of the ANZACs: they had landed in the wrong position. They had meant to land on a flat beach where they would have had a better chance of reaching the shore to attack enemy troops.

Instead, the ANZACs and the Turkish troops reached a deadlock, with neither able to take any new ground for months. The ANZACs began evacuating on 20 December 1915. The Australians had spent only eight months in Gallipoli, but in this short time had suffered 25,000 casualties, including 8700 deaths.

The bravery and endurance of Australian troops in the face of death is what turned this horrific event into a legend that has helped to shape our country.

The Battle of Fromelles

The Battle of Fromelles was fought between Australian and German troops in France during World War I. It was the first battle involving Australians on the Western Front. The battle began at 6pm on 19 July 1916 and ended the next morning (20 July) at 8am. During this short period, the Australians suffered around 7000 casualties (including 2400 killed) compared to the 1600 German casualties. Although the remains of many Australians were recovered from the battlefield, many were left unaccounted for, even after the war had ended.

Ninety years later, a Melbourne school teacher and amateur historian named Lambis Englezos began compiling evidence to prove that the remains of hundreds of Australian and British troops lay in mass unmarked graves behind the German line at Fromelles. Englezos' research was so compelling that, in 2008, an official investigation was launched. The Oxford Archaeology team set to work recovering the remains of 250 Australian and British soldiers. DNA testing is being used to identify the soldiers and is helping to bring peace to the families of those who remained missing for so long.

The fallen soldiers have been laid to rest with full military honours at the new Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery in France.

The Somme Offensive

One of the reasons for the Battle of Fromelles was to draw German troops away from the Somme offensive, which was taking place in a region of France called the Somme Valley. The Somme Valley was the backdrop to many of the bloodiest conflicts and terrible conditions in 1916 and 1917.

During the first day of the offensive, 1 July 1916, the British army had 60,000 casualties, with nearly a third of those dead. For Britain, this campaign was terribly costly, and destroyed their volunteer army, meaning that they had to rely on conscription to replenish the army.

The Somme offensive heavily affected the number of Australian troops, as volunteer numbers decreased when people back home realised the true tragedies of war. In 1916, Prime Minister Billy Hughes called for a referendum (a majority rules by the people of Australia) to decide whether conscription should be introduced in Australia or not. The Nation said 'No', however, in 1917, Hughes called for another referendum, where again, Australia's response was 'No'.

The ANZAC Spirit

To cope with the tragic losses our country saw at Gallipoli, the men and women of Australia searched for the positive in the experience. To get through such a horrendous time the soldiers had to develop strong bonds with each other and demonstrate extraordinary courage, endurance and bravery.

So, today, when you hear someone speak about the ANZAC spirit, think of courage, bravery, endurance, mateship, determination and sacrifice. These are the values that were demonstrated so strongly by the soldiers at Gallipoli and are important in defining Australia as a nation.

Simpson and his donkey

One man who exemplified the ANZAC spirit was Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick. Simpson, as he was known, was a stretcher-bearer in the Australian Army Medical Corps. Night or day, he rescued injured men from the battle line at Monash Valley and transported them to safety at ANZAC Cove on the back of his donkey. The donkey had originally been brought to Gallipoli for carrying water but, with Simpson, it found a much greater cause. In only 24 days at Gallipoli, Simpson and his donkey rescued around 300 wounded soldiers.

Honouring the ANZACs

In 1916, one year after the Gallipoli landing, 25 April was officially declared as ANZAC Day. In the beginning, ANZAC Day honoured the ANZACs. However, after World War II, ANZAC Day came to be about honouring all veterans, servicemen and women, alive or dead. ANZAC Day commemorates everyone who has been involved in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations, from the Occupation of Japan, to the Korean War, to the Vietnam War, to the conflict in Afghanistan.

Over the years, many ANZAC Day traditions have formed. Since 1927, ANZAC Day has begun with a Dawn Service. Dawn is a symbolic time. The landing at Gallipoli occurred at dawn, and soldiers are customarily woken before dawn and called to 'stand-to' (meaning to man their positions).

Dawn Services generally incorporate the following elements: veterans are called to 'stand-to', followed by one or two minutes of silence to remember the fallen, then the silence is broken by a single bugle (a brass horn instrument) playing the Last Post. The Last Post was originally played during war to tell soldiers the day was over. When the Last Post is played at memorial services it symbolises that the duty of the dead is over and that they are able to rest in peace. Today, services often include the reading of hymns and poems, a gun salute and Reveille (the bugle call to wake up).

ANZAC Day parades are also held, with ex-servicemen and women marching in uniform. Flowers and wreaths are laid on graves or memorials. A poppy or sprig of rosemary is worn on ANZAC Day. Rosemary is for remembrance and poppies symbolise the bloodshed in war. During World War I, red poppies were the first plants to grow on the devastated French and Belgian battlefields. Soldiers used to say that their red colour came from all the blood spilt on the ground. On ANZAC Day, flags are lowered to half-mast as a sign of honour, respect and mourning.

Some Australians choose to travel to Gallipoli in Turkey for an ANZAC Day service by the beach. Others travel to France for the services at Villers-Bretonneux and Bullecourt.

Harefield Park - England

A man who certainly demonstrated the ANZAC spirit was a wealthy Australian named Charles Billyard-Leake who, in 1914, was living at Harefield Park: a large manor house in Middlesex, England. Charles was too old to join the army in 1914 (when World War I began), but he still wanted to support the war effort of his birth country. He did this by allowing his house and its large, sprawling grounds to be used as a hospital for ANZAC soldiers. Throughout the war, and for six months after it finished, 50,000 ANZACs stayed at Harefield Hospital. The King and Queen of England also paid a visit in 1915.

Today the students from a local primary school, Harefield Junior School, are keeping this time in history alive by studying the stories of Australian soldiers who stayed at Harefield Hospital. The local village holds an ANZAC Day celebration every year, where children parade through the town before laying wreaths or flowers on some of the 111 graves of Australian soldiers and one nurse.

A flag from Harefield School was used to cover the coffins of the soldiers who died at Harefield Hospital. This flag now hangs in Adelaide High School in South Australia, as a sign of their shared history. During World War I, the Adelaide High School community sent parcels of food and money donations to every student and teacher at Harefield School. The two communities still keep in contact today.

It's not all about history

ANZAC Day is not all about history. Even though Australia is not at war, many Australians are currently serving in wars and peacekeeping operations overseas. ANZAC Day is a particularly important date to Australians with friends or family members in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). On ANZAC Day, many families think of their mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers or sisters who are in war zones or on peacekeeping missions overseas.

There are currently thousands of ADF personnel based around the world. In many locations, Australians are working with other nations such as New Zealand, France, Canada and the USA to maintain peace and stability. Peacekeeping is a major role of the ADF.

Some of the tasks performed by ADF personnel can be as simple as providing dental and medical care to locals, or veterinary assistance to livestock on farms. These acts, although seemingly simple, can change people's lives.

ANZAC Centenary fast facts

The ANZAC Centenary will be commemorated from 2014 to 2018.

The mothers, sisters and wives left behind during World War I sent ANZAC biscuits made of oats, sugar, flour, coconut, butter and golden syrup to their sons, brothers and husbands at Gallipoli. ANZAC biscuits were hard and long-lasting, designed to survive the long journey to the troops. Some men crushed them, mixed them with water and ate them like porridge.

The last surviving ANZAC, Alec Campbell, died on 16 May 2002.

World War I was often referred to as the 'Great War'.

In World War I, Australians not only served at Gallipoli but also on the Western Front (France and Belgium) as well as in the Middle East.

The Australian Imperial Force (AIF), the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian Light Horse and the Australian Flying Corps all fought in World War I.

The word ANZAC has been protected by Australian legislation since 1921. This ensures that the word is not misused. To use the word you must seek permission from the Minister for Veterans' Affairs.

Although women were not allowed to fight in World War I, many tended to the injured troops overseas and in Australia as members of the Australian Army Nursing Service.

Simpson's donkey was most often called Duffy, but was also called Abdul or Murphy.

Two decades after the end of World War I, Australia once again followed Britain into war for World War II.

References

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ANZAC Day occurs on 25 April every year. On this day we again remember and honour all Australians who have served in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations around the world, including the ANZACs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I.

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PM&C acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.

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What is Easter?

Easter is the Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his the promise of eternal life.

Where did the Name Easter Come From?

Easter is also known as Pasch or Pascha.

Some people believe the word Easter comes from the pagan holiday honoring Eostre the pagan goddess of Spring which symbolized rebirth.

Others believe the word Easter comes from the German word eostarun meaning dawn and white.

When is Easter Celebrated?

Easter is now celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon on the Spring Equinox between March 22nd and April 25th

Easter is celebrated at the end of Lent on the last day of Holy Week.

Holy Week starts off with Palm Sunday the following Good Thursday the day of the Last Supper, Good Friday the day of Jesus crucifixion and Sunday the day Jesus rose which is now the celebration of Easter.

Where Does the Tradition of Coloring Easter Eggs Come From?

The Christian tradition of staining Easter Eggs started with Christians of Mesopotamia. They would stain their eggs red to represent "the blood of Christ, shed at his crucifixion." The egg later became a symbol of Jesus's resurrection. Some Christians believe that cracking open an Easter egg symbolizes the empty tomb of Jesus.

The traditional word for painting Easter eggs is called pysanka.

Exchanging painted eggs started in ancient civilizations with people such as the Egyptians and Persians. The would exchange eggs as a symbol of fertility and new life.

Why a Rabbit for Easter?

Rabbits and Hares were also symbols of fertility.

In folkore the Easter Bunny is a hare not a rabbit and lays eggs. Real hares and rabbits do not lay eggs.

The idea of the Easter Bunny originated in Germany.

The idea of the Easter Bunny was brought to the US by German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania Dutch Country in the 1700s.

Germans believed the Easter Bunny was a white hare that would leave colorful eggs for good girls and boys on Easter Morning.

The girls and boys would wake up Easter morning and build out of sticks and leaves so the Easter Bunny can leave them the eggs. This is how the first Easter Hunts started.

Original Easter baskets were made to look like nests now children receive colorful baskets filled with eggs and candies from the Easter Bunny.

The first edible Easter Bunnies were made in Germany in the early 1800s. They were made pastry and sugar.

More Fun Facts about Easter

Pretzels were a food that was associated with Easter. It is believed that pretzels are the world's oldest snack food. History says its origin dates back to 610AD when an Italian Monk used dough left over for baking bread to make pretzels. He folded the dough over to make it looks like children's arms folded when they pray.
Easter is the second largest candy consuming holiday. Halloween is the first.

Everyday 5 million marshmallow chicks and bunnies are made to prepare or Easter.

Peeps are the most popular non chocolate Easter candy.

Around 700 million peeps are sold for Easter.

Jellybeans became an Easter tradition in the 1930's.

16 billion jelly beans are made for Easter.

Cherry or red is the most popular flavor/color jellybean.

90 million chocolate Easter bunnies are made for Easter.

When most people eat chocolate Easter bunnies they eat the ears first.

The most popular chocolate eggs are Cadbury Cream Eggs.

Every year there is a big Easter Hunt Hunt at the White House in Washington D.C to celebrate Easter.

The first Easter Egg Hunt or Roll at the White House was in 1878 while President Rutherford B. Hayes was in office.

Easter Records

According to the Guiness Book of World Records the largest Chocolate Easter Egg was made in Cortenuova Italy. It had a circumference of 64ft 3.65 inches and weighed in at 15873 pounds in April 2011.

The largest decorated Easter Egg was made in Portugal in march 2008. It stood 48ft 6 inches tall and had a diameter of 27ft.

The largest Easter Egg Hunt happened at Cypress Gardens Adventure Park in Winter Haven Florida. The hunt consisted of 501,000 Easter Eggs!

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Why Do We Celebrate Easter? Fun Easter Facts for Kids - Kids Play and Create

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Fun Easter Facts for Kids What is Easter? Easter is the Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his the promise of eternal life. Where did the Name Easter Come From? Easter is also known as Pasch or Pascha. Some people believe the word Easter comes from the pagan holiday honoring Eostre the ...

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Australian website:

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Australian Labour Day is a holiday throughout Australia marked by parades. Learn why Australians celebrate. Australian information service - from Australian animals to culture and more. Australian games and greeting cards.

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From an AMERICAN website

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Chinese New Year is a traditional and very important Chinese holiday. It was originally a festival to honor ancestors as well as holy or sacred beings. It is also known as the Spring Festival, which is the literal translation from the Chinese name.

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Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version Download sample

Saint Valentine's Day, also known as Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is a holiday celebrated on February 14 each year in many countries around the world. It is not a public holiday in most countries and over history it evolved into a holiday in which people express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines").

See the fact file below for more information on Valentine's Day or download the 39 page comprehensive worksheet collection to use within the homeschooling or classroom environment.

Origin Of Valentine's Day:

One of the popular origins of Valentine's Day was Saint Valentine, who defied Emperor Claudius II. Valentinus was imprisoned for illegally officiating marriage among soldiers.

Emperor Claudius banned such marriages because he believed that it distracted soldiers. Valentinus was soon executed. It was believed that before his execution, he wrote a letter to Julia, the daughter of his jailer. The letter was inscribed with "From your Valentine."

Allegedly, Valentinus was buried on February 14th. Julia planted almond and pink blossoms beside his grave symbolizing lasting friendship and love.

There was another Saint Valentine who served as a pope for 40 days in 827 A.D.

During the 1300s, Valentine's Day was associated with the idea of love and romance. Birds' mating season falls in February, which is why doves are often associated with love.

In 1537, King Henry VIII declared February 14 a holiday. The king was known as the last Tudor king who has six wives over the course of his life

Valentine's Day Celebration

In the 18th century England, Valentine's Day was celebrated in the way we know today. Lovers or couples started to exchange gifts, flowers, cards, and candies to express their love.

By the late 19th century, Richard Cadbury released the first Valentine's Day candy box.

The first exchange of a Valentine's Day card was sent during the 1700s but it was not until the 1840s when cards and letters for this day became mass-produced.

Today, Valentine's Day is the second most popular day for sending cards and letters, next to Christmas.

In the United States alone, approximately 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged every year.

In 1866, Necco sweethearts also known as conversation hearts were invented. Phrases such as hug me, true love, kiss me, and love me were inscribed on boxes.

The most popular gift on Valentine's Day is flowers followed by chocolates and jewelry. February 14 also became the most popular day for marriage proposals.

During Valentine's Day, Verona, Italy receives 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet. Romeo and Juliet were the famous characters of William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.

Cupid, son of Venus, was associated to Valentine's Day as the matchmaker. Venus was the goddess of love and beauty.

In Latin American countries, Valentine's Day is known as el dia de los enamorados (day of lovers).

In Denmark, Valentine's Day is a relatively new holiday (the 1990s). Danish people give white flowers known as snowdrops. In addition, men give women gaekkebrev or joking letters consisting of a funny poem.

In South Korea, Valentine's starts on February 14 and lasts until April 14. Women start the gift-giving on the 14th of February, known as Red Day. By March 14, known as the White Day, men send the gifts. The third holiday, known as Black Day, falls every April 14 and is the time for single men and women to mourn for their status with friends by eating jajangmyeon (black bean paste noodles).

From as early as the 17th century, Welsh wooden love spoons are carved by men to express their love for women. These spoons are also exchanged as gifts during weddings, anniversaries, and births.

In China, Valentine's Day is synonymous with Qixi or the Seventh Night Festival. During this time, women prepare fruit offerings to Zhinu, the heavenly king's daughter, in search of a good husband.

Mass weddings are officiated in the Philippines every February 14.

Italians celebrate Valentine's Day as the Spring Festival. It is the time for young and unmarried women to spot for their future husbands. Couples celebrate the day with a romantic dinner.

Brazilians have their Lovers' Day on June 12th followed by Saint Anthony's Day, honoring their patron saint of marriage.

Other Important Events On This Day:

Oregon became the 33rd state admitted to the Union on Valentine's Day of 1859, while Arizona attained its statehood in 1912.

In 1962, U.S. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy appeared on the first televised tour inside the White House.

On Valentine's Day of 1876, Alexander Graham Bell applied for the patent of the telephone.

On February 14, 1929, Alexander Fleming introduced penicillin.

Valentine's Day Worksheets

This BUMPER bundle includes 39 ready-to-use Valentine's Day worksheets that are perfect for students to learn about Saint Valentine's Day, also known as Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, which is a holiday celebrated on February 14 each year in many countries around the world.

Valentine's Day Facts

Who's St. Valentine?

Fill My Heart

Symbols of Love

Flower Power

Mapping Valentine's Day

Heart's Day

14/02

Necco Sweethearts

Picture Valentine's

Valentine's Day Card

Introduction

Valentine's Day Facts

The Goddess of Love

The Symbols of Valentine's

What would your valentine's card contain?

I Love You Around the World

Love Limerick

CELEBRATING VALENTINE'S IN...

Japan

Estonia

United States and other countries

Music and Romance

Love and Songs

Valentine's Day Maze

Matching by Pair

Great Romances

Great Romances II

Hearty Multiplication

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Valentine's Day Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, January 27, 2021
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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Valentines Day Facts, Worksheets, Origin & History Through Time For Kids

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Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version Download sample Saint Valentine's Day, also known as Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is a holiday celebrated on February 14 each year in many countries around the world.

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Chinese New Year Quick Facts

Chinese:

春节 Chūn Jié /chwn-jyeah/

Also called:

'Spring Festival', Lunar New Year

2020 date:

Saturday, Jan. 25th

Holiday:

7 days (Jan. 24th-30th)

Celebrations:

New Year decorations, New Year's Eve dinner, firecrackers and fireworks, red envelopes...

Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival,is China's most important festival. It is also the most important celebration for families and a week of an official public holiday.

Chinese New Year 2020 falls on Saturday, January 25, 2020, beginning a year of the Rat. China's public holiday will be January 24-30, 2020.

When Is Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year falls on Saturday, January 25 in 2020, and Friday, February 12 in 2021.

The date of the Chinese New Year is determined by the lunar calendar: the holiday falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice on December 21. Thus, each time the New Year in China falls on different dates of the usual Gregorian calendar, between January 21 and February 20.

The important dates during the period of Chinese New Year 2020:

See more about Chinese New Year calendar.

Why is it called the Spring Festival?

Though being in winter for most of China, the Chinese New Year is popularly known as the Spring Festival in China. Because it starts from the Beginning of Spring (the first of the twenty-four terms in coordination with the changes of Nature) and marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

The Spring Festival marks a new year on the lunar calendar and represents the desire for a new life.

Chinese New Year 2020 (a Year of the Rat)

The Chinese zodiac gives each year an animal sign.

In popular Chinese astrology Chinese New Year is important ... For Chinese people, years begin at Chinese New Year, rather than January 1!

2020: A year of the Rat will start on January 25th.

2021: A year of the Ox will start on February 12th.

Find out your Chinese New Year horoscope from our Chinese Zodiac pages.

Chinese New Year Celebrations - the 4 Main Things

The main Chinese New Year activities include 1) putting up decorations, 2) eating reunion dinner with family on New Year's Eve, 3) firecrackers and fireworks, and 4) giving red envelopes and other gifts. These four things are introduced below.

Red decorations, red wrapped gifts, and red clothes are everywhere at Chinese New Year.

Public celebrations: In many Chinese cities, from New Year's Day, traditional performances can be seen: dragon dances, lion dances, and imperial performances like an emperor's wedding. A great variety of traditional Chinese products are on offer, and rarely seen Chinese snacks. City parks and temple fairs are the places to go for this.

1. Chinese New Year Decorations - Lucky Red Items

Every street, building, and house where Spring Festival is celebrated is decorated with red. Red is the main color for the festival, as red is believed to be an auspicious color.

Red Chinese lanterns hang in streets; red couplets are pasted on doors; banks and official buildings are decorated with red New Year pictures depicting images of prosperity.

Red couplets are put up for Chinese New Year.

Most public decoration is done a month before, but home decoration is traditionally done on Chinese New Year's Eve.

As 2020 will be a year of the Rat, decorations related to rats will be commonly seen. Look out for red rat dolls for children and New Year paintings with rats on.

See How to Decorate for Chinese New Year: The Top 7 Decorations.

2. Chinese New Year's Eve - Family Time

Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) is a time for families to be together. Chinese New Year's Eve is the most important time. Wherever they are, people are expected to be home to celebrate the festival with their families.

The Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is called ' reunion dinner', and is believed to be the most important meal of the year.

New Year dinners have many meaningful dishes.

Like people waiting in New York Time Square to see the ball dropping, Chinese people have the custom of staying up late on Chinese New Year's Eve to welcome the new year's arrival.

After reunion dinner, families normally sit together to watch the Spring Festival Gala, one of the most watched TV shows in China. At the same time, most people send WeChat red envelopes or short messages to acquaintances by phone.

3. Firecrackers and Fireworks at Chinese New Year

It has long been a Chinese tradition to set off firecrackers from the first minute of their new year. Fireworks have increasingly been added to the cacophony. From public displays in major cities to millions of private celebrations in China's rural areas, setting off firecrackers and fireworks is an indispensable festivity.

Billions of fireworks go up in China at 12am Chinese New Year, the most anywhere at any time of year.

4. Chinese New Year Gifts and Red Envelopes

Like at Christmas in other countries, people exchange gifts during the Spring Festival. In rural areas and for older people the New Year gift giving tradition is still strong, but increasingly younger people prefer just to receive red envelopes (by hand or electronically).

At New Year red envelopes are customary in China.

The most common New Year gifts are red envelopes. Red envelopes have money in, and are believed to bring good luck because they are red. They are given to children and retirees. Customarily only employers give red envelopes to working adults.

See How Much Money Goes Inside in Red Envelopes.

Practical Guide: How to Celebrate the Chinese New Year

Businesses and public institutions in China take a 7-day Chinese New Year holiday, but those who need to (like us) will have some staff on duty. However, most large malls, tourist attractions, public transport, hotels, and restaurants will open as usual, or even stay open longer! Also see when transport will be overloaded and when local customs are due to happen.

Jan. 17 - 23

Streets decorated, cleaning, shopping, school holidays from Jan. 11.

Crazy busy: homeward journeys

End of year events; winding down

Jan. 24 ( CNY's Eve)

Homes decorated, reunion dinner, firecrackers, CCTV New Year Gala

Better, but locally busy

Most shops closed by the afternoon; businesses close

Jan. 25 ( CNY's Day)

12am, dawn, dusk: fireworks, firecrackers; family gifts, red envelopes; greetings

Quiet

No offices/banks open; only big malls open

Jan. 26 (CNY day 2)

Visiting nearby friends or relatives, firecrackers for guests and before dinner

Quiet

Most govt. offices shut; only big malls open.

Jan. 27 (CNY day 3)

Visiting friends and relatives in the city or friends and family in nearby villages

Locally busy, otherwise okay

Limited govt./bank services; only big malls open.

Jan. 28-29 (CNY day 4-5)

Visiting friends and relatives, or relaxing/traveling / returning to work.

Very busy: city return journeys begin

Limited govt./bank services; some shops reopen.

Jan. 30 (CNY day 6)

The public holiday period ends. China prepares to go back to work.

Very busy: more city return journeys

Some businesses reopen a day early.

Jan. 31-Feb. 8 (CNY days 7-15)

Life returns to normal; schools reopen Feb. 10; decorations up till Lantern Festival (Feb. 8).

Crazy busy: return travel rush

Business as normal by CNY day 8 (Feb. 1).

Chinese New Year Foods (Have Lucky Meanings)

Fish is a must for the Chinese New Year reunion dinner.

Food for the New Year emphasizes lucky symbolic meanings such as fish, which sounds like the Chinese word for 'surplus'. These foods are eaten during the 16-day festive season, and particularly for the New Year's Eve family reunion dinner.

The luckiest Chinese New Year foods (and their symbolic meanings) are:

Fish (an increase in prosperity)

Chinese dumplings (great wealth)

Glutinous rice cake (a higher income or position)

Read more on 7 Lucky Chinese New Year Foods and The Top 11 Chinese New Year Desserts.

Chinese New Year Superstitions - Things You Must/Mustn't Do

Lucky red, round Chinese New Year lanterns with lucky Chinese characters on are very popular.

In China, people are becoming less superstitious, but Chinese people traditionally believe that the year's start affects the whole year, so the Chinese Spring Festival is a season of superstitions. It's believed that what something looks like (color, shape), and what its name sounds like, gives it auspicious or ill-fated properties.

The Luckiest Things to Do at Chinese New Year

Giving money/gifts in lucky numbers and lucky red packaging with lucky greetings.

Eating lucky food like fish on New Year's Eve, especially carp or catfish with some left over for New Year's Day.

Lighting lots of red firecrackers and fireworks to scare away evil and bring good luck.

The Unlucky Things to Do at Chinese New Year

Having an accident, especially if it means hospital visits, crying, and breakages: all bad omens.

Giving gifts with unlucky meanings, colors, words, or numbers, or even saying something inauspicious.

Sweeping up on New Year's Day: don't "sweep all your luck away".

See more on Chinese New Year Taboos.

Chinese New Year Greetings

One of the most famous traditional greetings for Chinese New Year is the Cantonese kung hei fat choi, literally 'greetings, become rich'. In Mandarin that's gongxi facai /gong-sshee faa-tseye/.

Chinese New Year's History

Preparing a WeChat red envelope.

The festival has a history of over 3,000 years. Celebrations on lunar New Year's Day can be dated back to the ancient worship of heaven and earth. Over the centuries new traditions were added and celebrations became more entertainment-orientated. Read more on Chinese New Year History.

In 1967 food was rationed, and there was no money! Greetings were full of Communist fervor. Now people eat out for Chinese New Year, send e-money, and greet with instant messages on WeChat (the most popular app in China).

Chinese New Year Travel - Top Tips from Our Experts

At Chinese New Year, you can see many things in China that you wouldn't normally, like lion dances.

The festive period is one of the best times of the year to interact with Chinese people, and experience the local culture. However, it is also the busiest time of the year on China's transportation network. So, you might want to avoid the transport stress or seek out China's New Year culture, or both...

(We encourage you to find creative ways to share the content or images with your friends, family, colleagues and communities, provided that you acknowledge the copyright along the lines of "Copyright chinahighlights.com.")

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Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year 2020, Spring Festival Traditions)

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Chinese New Year Quick Facts Chinese: 春节 Chūn Jié /chwn-jyeah/ Also called: 'Spring Festival', Lunar New Year 2020 date: Saturday, Jan. 25th Holiday: 7 days (Jan. 24th-30th) Celebrations: New Year decorations, New Year's Eve dinner, firecrackers and fireworks, red envelopes... Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival,is China's most important festival.

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Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is the most important Chinese holiday. Learn more about Chinese New Year, such as the history of the holiday, conventional traditions associated with it, standard activities that take place, or other important information related to the holiday.

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A move from March to January

by Borgna Brunner

The celebration of the new year on January 1st is a relatively new phenomenon. The earliest recording of a new year celebration is believed to have been in Mesopotamia, c. 2000 B.C. and was celebrated around the time of the vernal equinox, in mid-March. A variety of other dates tied to the seasons were also used by various ancient cultures. The Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Persians began their new year with the fall equinox, and the Greeks celebrated it on the winter solstice.

Early Roman Calendar: March 1st Rings in the New Year

The early Roman calendar designated March 1 as the new year. The calendar had just ten months, beginning with March. That the new year once began with the month of March is still reflected in some of the names of the months. September through December, our ninth through twelfth months, were originally positioned as the seventh through tenth months (septem is Latin for "seven," octo is "eight," novem is "nine," and decem is "ten."

January Joins the Calendar

The first time the new year was celebrated on January 1st was in Rome in 153 B.C. (In fact, the month of January did not even exist until around 700 B.C., when the second king of Rome, Numa Pontilius, added the months of January and February.) The new year was moved from March to January because that was the beginning of the civil year, the month that the two newly elected Roman consuls -the highest officials in the Roman republic-began their one-year tenure. But this new year date was not always strictly and widely observed, and the new year was still sometimes celebrated on March 1.

Julian Calendar: January 1st Officially Instituted as the New Year

In 46 B.C. Julius Caesar introduced a new, solar-based calendar that was a vast improvement on the ancient Roman calendar, which was a lunar system that had become wildly inaccurate over the years. The Julian calendar decreed that the new year would occur with January 1, and within the Roman world, January 1 became the consistently observed start of the new year.

Middle Ages: January 1st Abolished

In medieval Europe, however, the celebrations accompanying the new year were considered pagan and unchristian like, and in 567 the Council of Tours abolished January 1 as the beginning of the year. At various times and in various places throughout medieval Christian Europe, the new year was celebrated on Dec. 25, the birth of Jesus; March 1; March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation; and Easter.

Gregorian Calendar: January 1st Restored

In 1582, the Gregorian calendar reform restored January 1 as new year's day. Although most Catholic countries adopted the Gregorian calendar almost immediately, it was only gradually adopted among Protestant countries. The British, for example, did not adopt the reformed calendar until 1752. Until then, the British Empire -and their American colonies- still celebrated the new year in March.

For more New Year's features see New Year's Traditions and Saying "Happy New Year!" Around the World.

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A move from March to January by Borgna Brunner New Year's Features New Year's Traditions Rosh Hashannah, Jewish New Year Chinese New Year Muharram, Islamic New Year Saying "Happy New Year!"

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Many Australians annually celebrate New Year's Eve with parties, music and other forms of entertainment on December 31. New Year's Eve is the day before New Year's Day in the Gregorian calendar, which is used by many Australians.

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National Australia Day website. Australia Day is for all Australians, no matter where our personal stories began. Reflect on being Australian, celebrate contemporary Australia and recognise our history.