This is a question many first-time visitors and newly-immigrated have. They might hail from a part of the world where observances are either strictly religious, or purely secular. Or from somewhere that doesn't celebrate Easter at all.
Easter has its roots in Christianity, to honour Jesus' resurrection. Going further back, we find pagan tones, particularly as eggs are dominant Easter symbols. They're also symbols of fertility and rebirth, two qualities that tie in with the holiday's timing. Regardless of when or how Easter originated, this article looks at how Aussies made the holiday their own.
How Do Australians Celebrate Easter
- Australia's Easter celebrations don't fall on the same day/date every year.
- The Australian Easter usually coincides with schools' autumn holidays.
- Australian Easter's symbolic animal is not always a bunny.
- Easter is a time of family gatherings and community activity in Australia
What Is Easter in Australia?
Easter in Australia is a four- to five-day holiday that people enjoy in autumn. For readers in the Northern Hemisphere, that means sometime between March and May. The Australian Easter is a floating holiday - a moveable feast, just like Easter elsewhere in the world.
Calculating which Sunday Easter will fall on can be a complex affair, as it relies on solar and lunar calendars. Also, the observation must coincide with either the Julian or Gregorian calendar.
Furthermore, religious tradition dictates that Easter must fall around the time of the Jewish Passover.
The computation to plan each year's Easter celebration is called computus pashalis. It falls on the first Sunday after the Pashal full moon.
We're happy to let the powers that be do all those calculations. And then, we plan accordingly. Like many countries, Easter in Australia has one foot in religious observance and the other on pure fun. For the devout, the holiday revolves around religious practices; for those not so inclined, different plans await.
That division is standard across societies. What's less standard is the difference between how Australians celebrate Easter, and how the rest of the world does.
Australian Easter
- 3- to 4-day holiday
- comes in Autumn
- features a bilby
- coincides with school break
- biggest holiday of the year
- hollow chocolate eggs
- hot cross buns
- casual clothing
Easter elsewhere
- 1- to 3-day observance
- comes in the Spring
- features a bunny
- no connection to school holidays
- not so special
- filled chocolate eggs
- no particular treats
- pastel coloured clothes
One more major difference: elsewhere, Easter symbolises rebirth and new possibilities. In Australia, this holiday typically coincides with harvest times.
Why Is Easter Celebrated?
The easy answer to that question is: for the same reason we celebrate Australia Day. It has to do with our history and national identity. At one time, Australia was a religious nation and, to an extent, it still is.
Furthermore, we've made Easter a part of Aussie culture, and have assigned it Australian symbols and traditions. Nowhere else in the world does a bilby deliver sweets, nor does anyone else eat bilby-shaped confections. So, the question should be: "Why shouldn't Australians celebrate Easter?".
@therealdogsla #eastersunday #siri #matrixglitch #fyp ♬ original sound - the real dogs llc
When is Easter Celebrated in Australia?
In the previous chapter, you read how complicated calculating Easter's date is. Apparently, it even confuses Siri! So, to keep things simple, Australians celebrate Easter on the same date as the rest of the countries that do. Keep in mind, though, that our Easter celebrations may include Good Friday, as well as Easter Sunday and Monday.
Furthermore, many employers include the Saturday before Easter in the holiday. You'll likely find all the shops closed for four days in a row, except for maybe small gas station shops. Be sure to stock up on everything you'll need before Friday, otherwise, you'll likely miss out during the holiday.
Final note: in 2025, Easter comes just five days before Anzac Day commemorations. Everyone will go from fun and frolic to solemn observance in less than a week, as we remember our tragic history. It might be a tough adjustment for the kids to make, so you'd better have a few extra chocolates lying around, to make things easier for them.
What Season is Easter in Australia?
As noted above, Easter coincides with harvest time in Australia - autumn, in other words. Historically, harvesting was a much bigger affair, when entire communities helped one another bring the crops in.
Today's city-dwelling populations don't pay any mind to agricultural schedules. For them, Easter might include a bush getaway, or time spent on the beach. It's still warm enough to enjoy water sports, and hiking is that much better after the summer heat passes.
Australian Easter Traditions
Easter treats make their way into the stores soon after Christmas. As early as January, we might find hollow chocolate eggs. Those displays grow bigger, the closer the holiday gets.
Other favourite treats include Cadbury creme eggs and Humpty Dumpty Easter eggs. Those are chocolate eggs filled with Smarties, a treat Australian children clamour for. Chocolate bunnies vie for space on the shelves, alongside the pricier Lindt gold bunnies.
These imports will do, in a pinch. However, Australian confectioners prefer that people buy their Easter Bilby creations.
Rabbits are not native to Australia. Those imported animals decimated the native bilby population, and they continue to be a pest. So, Australian lore includes the Easter Bilby, rather than the Easter bunny.
Our Easter Bilby scatters various types of eggs on lawns across Australia. Adults and children get in on the fun, hunting foil-wrapped eggs to sounds of laughter and shouts of glee. Only occasionally are the eggs of the hard-boiled variety, as might be the case in other parts of the world.
Unfortunately, we've no great Australian historical films about Easter to watch. But then, this is a holiday for fun and frolic, not for sitting around and watching movies.
Besides, the weather in Australia is (usually) mild during the Easter holiday. It's still warm enough to enjoy camping and other outdoor activities. Those activities are more like the Aussie spirit than movie-watching, anyway.
How do Australians Celebrate Easter?
That depends on the Australian in question. Those who follow religious teachings typically stick to universal religious observances. They will first mark Lent, a 40-day period of giving up something they enjoy - either food, activities, or both. It's typical to fast during Lent and go to Mass, especially on Good Friday.
That Friday marks the upcoming Easter celebration. In Australia, for the secular as well as the religious, Good Friday marks the actual holiday's beginning.
Everyone must make sure they have all their shopping done by Thursday evening. That's unlike Christmas celebrations in Australia, when people have open shops every day except for the actual holiday. And, if parents want to remain in their kids' good graces, they'll be sure to lay in their share of chocolate eggs.
How to Celebrate Easter in Australia's States
Church services, egg hunts, and wearing the requisite hats are standard Easter activities across the countries. Besides those staples, each state offers its residents special attractions.
Whether you hunt for chocolate in the community or in your own backyard, take time to consider these events.
Easter in New South Wales
The Sydney Royal Easter Show is a cannot-miss event. You can also hunt for Easter eggs at parks and gardens across the state.
Easter Doings for Queensland
Buy tickets to Sea World or Dreamworld for an extravagant Easter egg hunt. Or, you can find local festivals and activities in various towns.
Easter Happenings in Victoria
You must catch Melbourne's Royal Easter Show, which features games, rides, and exhibits.
Also, don't miss the Easter Festival in the Docklands. You may also join Easter Bilby hunts and other fun activities at area zoos and parks.
What to do for Easter in South Australia
In this state, you can enjoy Easter Bilby hunts and other activities at wildlife parks and zoos. Close to Adelaide, in Glenelg, you might take in the Easter Festival. Another Festival, at the Adelaide Showground, includes carnival rides and games.
The Western Australian Easter
You'll find Easter festivals and other doings throughout the state. Amusement parks often host Easter egg hunts. Be sure to catch the Perth Royal show. It's not specifically about Easter, but it happens around the same time.
Celebrate Easter in the Australian Capital Territory
Here, the Easter Festival in Kingston Foreshore rules. Otherwise, churches and communities offer the most engaging activities.
Easter in Tasmania
You might attend the Easter Festival in Hobart (Salamanca Place), or a community event. You can also check your local church for activities they host, besides Easter services.
Note that Tasmania considers Easter Monday a restricted public holiday.
Easter is the most generous of Australian public holidays. Sure, we might get a day here and there, for important events like the King's birthday and Australia Day. However, Easter in Australia presents us with four days of celebration and revelry. From this exposé, you can see how to make the most of it.
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