<P> On that day the "Queen's Birthday honours list" is released naming new members of the Order of Australia and other Australian honours . This occurs on the date observed in the Eastern States, not the date observed in Western Australia . </P> <P> The Queen's Birthday weekend and Empire Day, 24 May, were long the traditional times for public fireworks displays in Australia . Although they still occur, the tradition has recently been overshadowed by larger New Year's Eve fireworks, as the sale of fireworks to the public was banned by the states in the 1980s, and in the ACT as of 24 August 2009 . </P> <P> Christmas is observed on 25 December each year to commemorate the birth of Jesus . In Australia, it was introduced with British settlement in 1788 as the cultural norms were transferred to the new colonies . Though a Christian religious festival, it does not breach the constitution's separation of Church and State provision, because it is declared under State law, which is not subject to the provision . </P> <P> Boxing Day is on the day after Christmas, i.e. 26 December each year, except in South Australia . In South Australia, the first otherwise working day after Christmas is a public holiday called Proclamation Day . </P>

When did christmas become a public holiday in australia