Today is a big day in Australasia, the region consisting of Australia, New Zealand, and a few neighboring islands. ANZAC stands for Australia and New Zealand Army Corps and hearkens back to the World War I Allied campaign to retake the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. That nation was then the epicenter of the Ottoman empire, allied with Germany in the Great War. The Aussies and Kiwis suffered heavy losses in this heroic effort to open the Black Sea for the Allied navies.
Since then, this annual commemoration remembers all Australian and New Zealand soldiers "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations". The celebrations take the form of sunrise ceremonies, commemorative marches, and of course food. (More on that below!)
On our most recent visit to New Zealand, Becky and I had the opportunity to visit the Te-Papa Museum in the capital, Wellington, where there was a remarkable exhibit commemorating the ANZAC forces and their tremendous sacrifice at Gallipoli. The incredible larger than life figures (some pictured here) of ANZAC soldiers were created by none other than the skilled craftsmen and women of WETA Workshop, creators of the legendary creatures of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings fame.
Besides the typical golden meat pies, Lamingtons, and other typical Aussie/Kiwi fare on ANZAC Day, a special significance is attached to Anzac biscuits (cookies). They were first made by wives, mothers, and sweethearts of soldiers, containing few ingredients and capable of staying fresh during the long trip to the fighters overseas. Australians and New Zealanders are continually quibbling over ownership of certain culinary traditions, but as one writer put it: "Where the Pavlova divides us, the Anzac unites us."
Happy ANZAC Day to our Aussie and Kiwi friends.
