Happy Holidaze from Kiwi Land

We spent part of our Labour Day weekend in Kaikoura.
Photo by Erin Grigson

In New Zealand, today is Labour Day. Since this is a holiday that America shares, but on a different day (in New Zealand, on October 22 and in America on the first Monday in September), it prompted me to look into the national holidays of both countries. I'd like to compare and contrast them to help me better understand and remember them here.

Both countries have 10 national holidays (even though America also has an additional one every 4 years with inauguration day). They share some and don't share others, but many of them are comparable. Here, in calendar order, are the New Zealand national holidays.

New Zealand celebrates the New Year first, before the rest of the world. And while America celebrates it many, many hours later (18 to be exact), both countries have the day as a national holiday. However, unlike America, New Zealand also considers the day after New Year's Day a national holiday.



I discussed the Treaty of Waitangi when talking about
our trip to One Tree Hill in Auckland.
Photo by Erin Grigson

In February, kiwis celebrate Waitangi Day. This is a big deal. On February 6 of every year, the country remembers the Treaty of Waitangi. The treaty was agreed upon by British representatives and roughly 45 Maori chiefs. It was essentially the founding of New Zealand.

I would compare the significance of Waitangi Day to the importance of Independence Day in America... but they came under British rule with the signing of the treaty and America celebrates the opposite on the Fourth of July.

In a way, you could also sort of compare Waitangi Day to Columbus Day. But that's a very loose comparison.

In New Zealand, both Good Friday and Easter Monday (the Monday after Easter) are national holidays.

On April 25, New Zealand and Australia celebrate Anzac Day. Like America's Memorial and Veterans' Days, Anzac Day commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations," and "the contributions and suffering of all those who have served," according to the Australian War Memorial and the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

On the first Monday in June, kiwis celebrate the Queen's Birthday. Oddly enough, Queen Elizabeth II's birthday is on April 21. Americans have Presidents' Day, celebrating George Washington's birthday on the third Monday of February, but it's also known to commemorate the birthday of Abraham Lincoln among others.

My only questions about this holiday in New Zealand is, when she is no longer in reign and Prince Charles becomes king, do they change it to the King's Birthday? And, if so, will they change the day it is celebrated to reflect that?

Moving on...

New Zealand celebrates their struggle and success in getting an 8-hour work day with their Labour Day. The first Labour Day in the country occurred on October 28, 1890, and is celebrated on the fourth Monday of October. While Oregon first celebrated Labor Day in 1887, it wasn't until 1894 that it became an official federal holiday in America.

Obviously, kiwis don't celebrate Thanksgiving, so the next holiday up would be Christmas. And I don't think we need to go into that one.

Which leaves December 26, otherwise known as Boxing Day. New Zealand is not the only country that celebrates it. In fact, many countries in the Commonwealth, or countries once under British rule, do. Boxing Day's origins seem to vary, but they all seem to involve giving to the less fortunate.

And with that, we end our calendar of holidays.

Bonus: while they are not federal holidays, Mothers' Day and Fathers' Day are celebrated in both countries. The interesting thing, though, is that while both countries celebrate Mothers' Day on the same date, Fathers' Day is quite different. Fathers' Day in New Zealand is celebrated on the first Sunday in September. However, the sentiment is the same.

The other thing that's unique is what New Zealand calls "Mondayisation." This is the concept of letting employees celebrate a holiday on the Monday following it. With this idea, in some cases, employees could have Monday AND Tuesday off if perhaps Christmas and Boxing Day or New Year's Day and the Day After New Year's Day land on Saturday and Sunday.

Americans, on the other hand, would celebrate on Friday before if the holiday lands on Saturday and the Monday after if it's on Sunday.

This is where our holiday comparison ends.

What do you think of New Zealand's holidays?

Let me know. Meanwhile, I'll be over here celebrating Labour Day while I'm unemployed.