Australian Society and Culture

Sport In Australia, sport is very popular, especially watching sport. Different parts of Australia have different sports which people prefer, but sport is popular everywhere. Australian people follow closely the sporting competitions, and often know many details about the teams that they follow and the players, and spend a lot of time talking about them in daily life.

Australian Rules Football In the south of Australia, especially in Victoria, the sport of Australian Rules football is played in the winter time. In this sport, there is an oval shaped ball, which can be kicked or handballed to other players or through the goals. Each side tries to kick the ball between the large posts at one end, as this is six points. If the ball goes to the side between the smaller posts it is one point.

Australian Rules Football In Australian Rules Football, players can hold the ball in their hands and kick it or handball it.

Australian Rules Football If one player kicks it and another player catches it, that is called a mark, and the player who caught it gets a free kick. If one player has the ball another player can grab him and throw him to the ground.

Australian Rules Football Each team is allowed 18 players on the field. The most important competition is the Australian Football League, and most of the teams come from Victoria, although there are some teams from the other states as well. There are also many smaller competitions, as many Australians like to play football for their local team.

Rugby The other winter sport played in Australia is Rugby. Rugby is played more in the states of New South Wales and Queensland, and is quite different. The goal of rugby is to run across the line at the end of the field while carrying the ball, and to touch the ball to the ground. Other players can tackle the one carrying the ball and throw him to the ground.

Cricket During the summer months, cricket is played. The same as with football and rugby, there is a competition in Australia, but the more important competition is between Australia and teams from other countries, like India, Pakistan, England and the West Indies. There are also local competitions which people can play in near their home.

Other Sports Many Australians also watch and/or play other sports like basketball, soccer and netball (netball is a bit like basketball but with just girls, and with slightly different rules).

Holidays and Festivals Australians have various public holidays throughout the year like the Queen’s birthday and Australia Day and but for most people these times are just a chance to have a day off work and are celebrated by having a BBQ with friends or family. Some holidays have special traditions like Christmas, Easter and ANZAC day.

Christmas Christmas in Australia is celebrated in the same way as in many Western countries, except that it is in the middle of summer, so it is usually very hot. A week or two before Christmas, people put up christmas trees, which are usually small pine trees decorated with flashing lights and other things, and often have a star or an angel at the very top of the tree.

Christmas On the night before Christmas, parents will often put presents under the Christmas tree, for their children to find when they wake up in the morning. On Christmas day, the 25 th of December, people will often have a lunch or dinner with their family, a roast meal if they are more traditional, or just a BBQ.

ANZAC Day On the 25 th of April, Australians have ANZAC day, which is to remember Australian soldiers. There is a public holiday, and in the early morning a dawn service is held, and there is a march through the city which people who fought in the wars join, often accompanied by their children or grand children.