Easter Saturday

Categories:: Cultural
Tags:: Christian Festivities
Where:: Australia
Date change rule:: Saturday before Easter Sunday
Holiday emoji:: 🇦🇺

Easter Saturday, also known as Holy Saturday, arrives on April 4, 2026, marking the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. This day invites reflection and preparation for the joyous Easter celebrations. Gather your family, plan a festive meal, and prepare for a weekend of renewal.

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Expected Easter Saturday Deals

As part of the broader Easter weekend, Easter Saturday in Australia sees a continuation of promotions from major retailers. While specific 2027 deals are yet to be announced, expect supermarkets like Woolworths and Coles to feature discounts on Easter eggs, hot cross buns, and fresh produce for family gatherings. Department stores such as Kmart and Big W will likely offer sales on seasonal decorations, children’s toys, and craft supplies. Specialty chocolate brands like Cadbury and Lindt will continue their widespread availability of Easter treats. Home and garden stores like Bunnings Warehouse may also have promotions for weekend projects. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as March 27 approaches.

Platform Guide for Easter Saturday

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #EasterSaturday. Share photos of your Easter preparations, family gatherings, or quiet moments of reflection.

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #EasterSaturday. Film short videos of DIY Easter crafts, baking hot cross buns, or showcasing your festive decorations.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #EasterSaturday. Share community events, local public holiday activities, or family traditions.

Easter Saturday Hero

Jesus Christ

Central to the Christian faith, Jesus Christ's crucifixion and resurrection are the foundational events commemorated during Easter. Easter Saturday specifically marks the day when his body lay in the tomb, a period of solemn waiting before the joyous resurrection on Easter Sunday.

History of Easter Saturday

No one knows the exact date the world began celebrating Easter, but we can all agree on one thing — Easter is indeed the oldest Christian festival the world knows. Historians and scholars believe the festival gained prominence in the latter half of the second century, and we have never looked back.

Religious celebrations have always been muted on this day since the early ages, given that it falls only one day after Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. People would even take part in Easter Vigils, in a callback to how Jesus Christ’s followers held a vigil after Good Friday. Because it was a period of mourning, most Church services were suspended on this day. The only service allowed was a baptism, as it was believed this ritual allowed people to get closer to God and offered salvation to the dying. And that’s why across the world, the Saturday before Easter was a popular day to baptize people.

Over time, Easter adapted to adopt different customs and traditions of the countries it was celebrated in. Even in Australia, where most religious aspects have stayed the same, the festival has taken on cultural tones and seasonal ones too. After all, while it’s a celebration of spring (aka life) in many parts of the world, Easter Saturday heralds the coming of autumn in Australia. So, Australians celebrate harvests instead of spring. And, with so many different cultures and people calling Australia their home, this event becomes a different holiday for every segment of the Australian diaspora.

Easter Saturday timeline

1823

The Sydney Royal Easter Show

One of the largest ticketed events in the world, this annual show starts on the Friday before Easter and ends on the Tuesday following Easter.

1878

An Easter Sporting Event

The Stawell Gift — a foot racing event — is one of the oldest Easter sporting events in Australia and one of the most prestigious too.

Early 17th Century

Easter Eggs Pop Up

Decorated eggs have been a part of numerous Christian celebrations but are formally introduced to Easter celebrations during this period.

1991

The Origins of the Easter Bilby

The Foundation for Rabbit-Free Australia (pushes to replace the Easter Bunny with the Easter Bilby, based on the concept first introduced in Rose-Marie Dusting's 1968 story, “Billy the Aussie Easter Bilby,” which she writes to enhance Australia's awareness about the endangered animal.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Easter Saturday

Local businesses in Australia can acknowledge Easter Saturday by extending holiday trading hours where permitted, especially for essential services and hospitality. Cafes and restaurants can offer special Easter weekend menus, featuring brunch or family-friendly options. Retailers can promote last-minute Easter gifts or decorations, emphasizing the opportunity for quiet family time before Sunday’s celebrations. Highlight local attractions or activities that are open for the long weekend, catering to families enjoying the public holiday.

Easter Saturday FAQs

When is Easter Saturday?

In 2027, Easter Saturday will be observed on Saturday, March 27. It consistently falls on the day before Easter Sunday, making it a key part of the Christian Holy Week.

How many Australians celebrate Easter?

Millions of Australians, both religious and secular, engage in Easter festivities. The holiday is a significant cultural event, marked by family reunions, special meals, and the exchange of chocolate eggs.

What is the significance of Easter Saturday?

Beyond its religious meaning, Easter Saturday is a public holiday in many Australian states, making it a day for families to relax, travel, and prepare for the main Easter Sunday celebrations. It bridges the solemnity of Good Friday with the joy of Easter.

Is Easter Saturday a public holiday in all of Australia?

While widely recognized as a public holiday, the specific observance of Easter Saturday can vary by state. It’s important for residents and travelers to check local government advisories for confirmed public holiday status in 2027.

Easter Saturday Activities

Sit in on a church service
Multiple churches and some community centers near you will be hosting special services for Easter Saturday. If you are so inclined, go ahead and check if you can attend a service or two.
Go Easter egg hunting
Revisit your childhood for a day. Get someone to bury Easter eggs in your backyard/garden and have a fun little hunting session with your loved ones. As a bonus prize, you get to keep (and eat) all the delicious Easter eggs you can find.
Spend the holiday with loved ones
Take some time off from the daily grind to indulge in a little family-and-loved-ones time. Take a weekend trip, plan a staycation, or simply have a little Easter Saturday brunch.

5 Ways The Australian Celebration Is Different From The World

Easter Saturday by another name
Did you know the Christian Church thinks 'Easter Saturday' for the day before Easter is the wrong terminology; they prefer it to be called 'Holy Saturday,' which is the official term everywhere around the world (except Australia).
A different term across Australia too
Officially, Easter Saturday is called by the same name in New South Wales and the Northern Territory, but changes to 'the day after Good Friday' in Queensland and South Australia and is called the 'Saturday before Easter Sunday' in Victoria.
No Easter Bunnies
Australians categorize rabbits as crop-destroying pests and have replaced this Easter symbol with the native Australian Bilby — a tiny endangered marsupial that resembles a rat.
Their spin on hot cross buns
Australians share the tradition of eating hot cross buns with England but switched out the dried fruit on top for chocolate chips and cocoa powder to go along with the chocolate flavor of the Australian version.
Sports and Easter Saturday
Australian Rules Football season begins around the same time as these celebrations, so multiple sports events form a part of Easter Saturday events too, with some rare ones falling on Easter Monday as well.

Why We Love Easter Saturday

It's different, yet not
Celebrations for Easter Saturday in Australia are so similar to the rest of the world and yet they have their unique spin on some favorite traditions. This dichotomy makes for a very interesting celebration.
There's something about Easter eggs
We can't really tell if it's the chocolate, the colorful designs, or the playful connection to the Easter hunt. However, we adore these sweet confections, and the entire Easter celebration too.
We love the upturned weather too
It's spring everywhere else, but autumn in Australia. It's almost like we're celebrating Easter Saturday in an alternate universe.