Norfolk Island : public and bank holidays, closure of banks, stock exchanges, school vacations

School holidays :

Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Year’s Day on Christmas Day.

Secular holiday : The day after Christmas, the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is better known as Boxing Day. The term may come from the opening of church poor boxes that day; maybe from the earthenware boxes with which boy apprentices collected money at the doors of their masters' clients.

Secular holiday : The world's most widely celebrated holiday, New Years was set on January 1 by Julius Caesar because that was the date the Roman consuls took over their duties. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

Secular holiday : Celebrates the first settlement by the British lead by captain Arthur Phillip (1788)

Secular holiday : Celebrates the first settlement by the British lead by captain Arthur Phillip (1788)

School holidays : Https://education.nsw.gov.au
Western region end summer holidays one week later
calendar gazetted by the Ministry of Education
study programs are not yet aligned with the requirements of the Bologna Process
PISA ranking (average 493): 510 (among the 15 best WW)
School day duration: 6:30 hours
Average class size: more than 22
Schooling is mandatory till age 16
Number of yearly instructional days: 200
Computer to student ratio: 1:3
no school on Saturday
school uniforms are required
QS Best Student Cities in Sydney: #9
University of Sydney ranking: Times Higher Education #61/QS ranking #50/Shanghai (2023) #73
The University of New South Wales ranking: Times Higher Education #78/QS ranking #45/Shanghai (2023) #76

We carry confirmed dates till Dec 2026

Please note that authorities may take last-minute decisions; please double-check if this information is vital to you
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Secular holiday : Commemorates the day on which Lt. Philip Gidley King arrived on the island in 1788, establishing the very first European settlement there. He left Post Jackson earlier that year on the Supply along with 22 people, 15 of whom were convicts