Easter Australia: Everything You Wanted To Know About Easter Sunday 2024
Easter is coming up quickly on Sunday, March 31st, 2024. An ancient holiday that dates back centuries, Easter is an important cultural event. In this article, we'll dive into the history of Easter, its role in modern Australian culture, and the most frequently asked questions about Easter and our Easter hampers.
Let's begin.
The origins of Easter
Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians believe that Jesus was crucified on Easter Monday, lay dead in his tomb on Holy Saturday, and was resurrected on Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday marks the end of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and prayer.
Easter has been celebrated in Australia since the arrival of British colonists, however Easter celebrations today look far different to the celebrations of the first fleet.
Easter 2024: modern celebrations
Easter in 2024 in Australia is an opportunity to celebrate with family, nibble on Easter eggs, and dig into hot cross buns. It's very common for Aussies to celebrate with an Easter camping trip, a BBQ, or an Easter party. Families with children also often celebrate with an Easter egg hunt, held when the children wake up on Easter morning.
As Australians get a four-day weekend for Easter, there are many events held on the weekend. Some popular events include the Sydney Royal Easter show, the National Folk Festival, Easter markets and festivals, and public Easter egg hunts.
Christian families also celebrate Easter with special church services, often held on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
FAQs about Easter 2024
In this section, we'll answer your top questions about Easter in Australia in 2024.
What is Easter?
Easter started out as a Christian festival and has turned into an Australian cultural holiday observed by most Australians. The holiday commemorates Jesus rising from the dead back in 30 AD. Christians believe that Jesus was crucified on Good Friday and resurrected on Easter Sunday.
In Australia, Easter is celebrated with a four-day long weekend, with Good Friday and Easter Monday being public holidays.
Why does the date of Easter in Australia change every year?
Easter in Australia is unique because it isn't tied to a date like our other national public holidays. Instead, Easter is based on the Paschal full moon – the first full moon after the March equinox on March 21st. Every year, Easter falls on the next Sunday after the full moon. This is the reason that Easter is sometimes called "Pascha" (though this is uncommon in Australia).
The calendar Easter is calculated on is the Gregorian calendar.
Do they celebrate Easter in Australia?
Yes, Australians celebrate Easter every year. The most common ways to celebrate are holding Easter egg hunts and eating hot cross buns. As Easter falls in autumn in Australia, we also have many Easter customs that other countries don't have – like Easter BBQs, Easter footy matches, and Easter camping trips.
Are shops open at Easter in Australia?
Yes and no. Almost all shops close in Australia on Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday. Some shops close on Holy Saturday, but many are also open. It's common for shops that are open over the Easter weekend to have reduced trading hours.
What are the Easter holidays in Australia?
Australia observes Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday. Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays. As this creates a four-day weekend, it's common for families to take an Easter holiday.
What are the Easter dates for 2024 in Australia?
This year, the Easter long weekend will be celebrated at the end of March and the start of April. Good Friday falls on March 29th, Holy Saturday falls on March 30th, Easter falls on March 31st, and Easter Monday falls on April 1st.
The Holy Week in 2024 runs from Sunday, March 24th to Saturday, March 30th.
Why is Easter Monday celebrated in Australia?
Easter Monday isn't part of the Easter weekend in the way that Good Friday is. There is a public holiday on Easter Monday because Easter Sunday falls on a weekend, and therefore workers already get a day off of work.
Is Easter Sunday a public holiday in Australia?
Yes and no. Easter Sunday is a public holiday in the ACT, Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, and Victoria. Tasmania, South Australia, and the Northern Territory haven't made Easter Sunday a public holiday.
Is Good Friday a public holiday in Australia?
Yes, Good Friday is a public holiday in all states and territories. This year, Good Friday falls on March 29th.
What is Eastern Orthodox Easter and why does it fall on a different day?
Eastern Orthodox Easter will fall on Sunday, May 5th, 2024. It falls on a different day because Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar to identify when Easter will be.
How do Australians celebrate Easter?
Here are some ways Australians celebrate Easter:
- Easter egg hunts
- Hot cross buns
- Easter BBQs
- Easter beach trips
- Family lunches
- Parties with friends
- Footy matches
- Church services
- Easter markets
- Public events
What is the Easter bilby in Australia?
Easter lore says that the Easter Bunny brings chocolate eggs for children and hides them around their homes. As bunnies are a non-native pest here in Australia, many families say that the Easter Bilby comes instead.
You can buy chocolate Easter bilbies from most supermarkets.
Where can I find Easter hampers?
The Hamper Emporium is the best place to find Easter hampers in 2024. We offer a huge selection of hampers, including hampers with Easter eggs. Our best Easter hampers are the Easter Chocolate & Red Wine Lovers Box and the Easter Chocolate Lovers Box.
What are your best Easter hampers?
Here are our top Easter hampers:
Easter Chocolate Lovers Box
This hamper is made to satisfy every sweet Easter craving. The star of the hamper is a packet of Maggie Beer's Belgian Milk Chocolate Mini Easter eggs. They're simply divine, and an Easter must. Accompanying them are goodies like Belgian wafers, lemon white chocolate almonds, dark chocolate almonds, and a quince cherry and chocolate paste. You can't go wrong with this Easter gift.
Easter Chocolate & Red Wine Lovers Box
Pour a glass of Hentley Farm Neighbours & Friends Barossa Shiraz, grab a few of Maggie Beer's Belgian milk chocolate Easter eggs, and have a gourmet night in. This Easter hamper has everything you want and more – chocolate, chocolate nuts, and more chocolate. You simply can't go wrong with it.
Summary: Easter Australia 2024
Easter is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated by most Australians, and it falls on March 31st this year. Easter is often celebrated with hot cross buns, Easter eggs, and Easter hampers, and most families gather and celebrate Easter together.
