Be is July 1st for Canadians or July 4th for Americans. I'm not sure if Australia or New Zealand has special birthdays like we do here in Canada or the States.

~we always try to see a parade if they have one. There will be one in a small town near us.
~we ALWAYS go to watch the fireworks. The kids are all excited about it.
~and we sometimes like to go for a picnic on July 1st.

How about you, any special traditions?

In New Zealand we celebrate Waitangi Day (NZ Day) on 6th Feb. each year. Unfortunately in recent times it has, more often than not, come to be a day of division with protests and angry scenes about racial issues.
Our Anzac Day now seems to be more symbolic and meaningful. That's on April 25th, when we commemorate the Kiwis and Aussies who fought for their countries in various wars. (ANZAC = Australia & New Zealand Army Corps.)
Both days are public holidays and there are parades and special events.

Heh Maggie, I have something in common with your country. My birthday is April 25th. How cool is that!!

We celebrate Australia Day on January 26. That's the day the first white settlers and convicts came to Australia. However, similar to what Maggie said is happening in NZ, it's now seen as "Invasion Day" by the aboriginees. Anzac Day is becoming more of a national day than Australia Day now.

Having said that, Australia Day is a holiday and we have a BBQ and listen to the Australian top 100 records for the year that are played on our alternative radio station Triple J - this being a lovely tradition started by my sons and which I thoroughly enjoy. Whoever is here, we always cheer like mad people whenever the top song is an Australian one - which has been the case in the past few years.

We have a number of our personal holidays that fall the first of July. My dad's birthday was the 4th, my nieces birthday is the 5th and our wedding anniversary is the 8th. We celebrate all on the 4th.

We also used to have a "Winter Baby Birthday Party" on the 4th. We would celebrate the birthdays of those that we couldn't all get together in the winter months. Lots of fun there!

Susie in MN

Heh Maggie, I have something in common with your country. My birthday is April 25th. How cool is that!!
An ANZAC baby, CJ! That sure makes you an "honorary down-under girl"!
You'll blend in easily.....if Bethany and I work on your accent a bit! :hurray:

We hang out together in the backyard and house. I try to do a BBQ or something nice to eat and a dessert.