Resource # 3

Date
26 January

Celebration Name
Australia Day

Country of Origin
Australia

26 January

Indian Republic Day

India

February
(date changes
yearly)
Feb - Apr

Chinese New Year

China

CELEBRATION DAYS
Cultural Group
Significance of Celebration
Australian
This day is important because it is the date the First Fleet arrived in Port Jackson in
1788.
Indian
This day is important because it is the date the Constitution of India came into force
on 26 January, 1950 replacing the Government of India Act (1935).
Chinese
This day is important because it marks the first fifteen days of the Chinese calendar.

Japan

Japanese

17 March

Sakura (Cherry
Blossom Festival)
St Patricks Day

Ireland

Irish

25 March

Independence Day

Greece

Greek

14 June

Matariki - Maori
New Year
NAIDOC Week

New Zealand

Dalai Lama's
Birthday
Bastille Day

Tibet

Maori & New

Zealanders
Aboriginal &
Torres Strait
Islander's
Tibetan

France

French

South Africa

South African

22 August

Nelson Mandela's
Birthday
Ramadan Begins

Middle East

Muslim

18 September

Rosh Hashanah

Israel

Israeli

2 October (date
changes yearly)

Diwali Festival Festival of lights

India

Indian

31 October

Halloween

Canada & American

Canadian &
American

July

6 July
14 July
18 July

Australia & Torres

Strait Islands

This day is important because it signals the end of the cold weather and the
beginning of spring.
This day is important because it is a traditional day for spiritual renewal and offering
prayers for missionaries worldwide.
This day is important because it commemorates the start of the War of Greek
Independence in 1821.
This day is important because it is the day that symbolises the coming of the Maori
New Year.
This event is important because it is a day that celebrates the history, culture and
achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This day is important because it is the date the 14th Dalai Lama was born.
This day is important because it is the date that commemorates the beginning of the
French Revolution.
This day is important because it is the date the day Nelson Mandela was born.
This day is important because according to the Muslims faith it is the holiest month
of the year.
This day is important because according to the Jewish faith it commemorates the
creation of the world.
This day is important because according to Hindu beliefs it is the celebration of the
marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. In Bengal the festival is dedicated to the
worship of Mother Kali, the dark goddess of strength.
This day is important because it is dedicated to remembering the dead, including
saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed believers.