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ANZAC Day
by W.Holidays
April 25
ANZAC is an acronym for
Australia, New Zealand Army Corps. ANZAC Day is national day in
Australia and New Zealand. Originally, it honored those who fought in
Gallipoli during World War I. Today, it honors all soldiers who have
died in war.
Great Britain joined the war against Germany on August 4, 1914.
Australia sided with Britain and was ready to fight. In 1915, an attack
was planned on Turkey through the Dardenelles with hopes of providing
safe sea passage to Russia. The British Navy attacked first. They were
defeated and casualties were high. Then, on April 25, 1915 the battered
British soldiers, the French troops, and ANZAC stormed the shores of
Gallipoli. The Turks were fierce and forewarned by the previous attack,
but when the dust finally settled a foothold had been established at
what is now known as the ANZAC Cove. The two days that followed were
bloody and savage as they held on to the foothold. After a brief
reprieve the fighting continued with heavy casualties on both sides.
Finally, in December an evacuation was ordered.
After eight months of fighting ANZAC suffered a loss of 8,587
soldiers and 19,367 wounded.
But with their heads held high the weary
soldiers returned to Europe singing:
"We are the ragtime army the
A.N.Z.A.C.
We cannot shoot, we won't salute, what bloody use are
we?"
Today, flags are flown at
half-mast until noon, then they are raised high until the end of the
business day. Wreaths of poppies are displayed at memorials. (During
WWI the trenches could be seen across fields of brilliant
poppies.) Wearing a sprig of rosemary on your lapel or pinned
over your heart symbolizes commemoration of deceased soldiers. Everyone
partakes of an ANZAC biscuit or two or three….
ANZAC Biscuit
Recipe
The original recipe calls for golden syrup, which is
difficult to find outside of Australia and England. The closest substitution is
dark corn syrup.
type: drop
makes: 2-1/2 dozen
1 cup
all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup shredded coconut
1 cup rolled oats
pinch of salt
2
teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 cup butter
4 tablespoon golden syrup or dark corn syrup
2
tablespoons water
Preheat oven to 350F.
Lightly grease cookie sheets
or line with parchment paper.
Combine flour, baking soda, sugar, coconut,
oats, ginger, and salt.
Melt butter in a saucepan.
Remove from
heat.
Stir the corn syrup and water into the butter.
Stir butter/syrup
mixture in to the dry ingredients.
Drop by the spoonful on to cookie sheets
about 2" apart.
Bake 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.
Transfer to
wire racks to cool.
modified
April 23, 2008 |
