Leslie Massey
Australia celebrates a number of public holidays throughout the year when banks, offices and some shops are closed. Good Friday is a public holiday in Australia, and it is a day of mourning for Christians, who commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. The day after Good Friday and before Easter Sunday is known as Holy Saturday, which is a public holiday in some states. However, the terminology for this day varies across different states in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday before Easter |
| Public holiday | Yes |
| Bank holiday | Yes |
| Shops closed | Yes |
| Trading laws | Restricted |
| Alcohol sale | Prohibited |
| Surcharge | Applicable in restaurants and cafes |
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What You'll Learn
Good Friday in Australia is a public holiday
Good Friday is a public holiday in Australia, but it is not a public holiday in the Vatican or Italy. In some Central American countries, including Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, the streets are decorated with vivid religious and natural images created from brightly coloured sawdust. This tradition of creating "alfombras" (Spanish for "carpet" or "rug") originated in Spain's Andalusia region and was brought over by missionaries over 400 years ago.
In Australia, if a public holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday (usually the following Monday) becomes a public holiday. This is true for both national and state public holidays. For example, Easter Saturday is gazetted as a public holiday in some states, while other states refer to it as "the day after Good Friday" or "Saturday before Easter Sunday".
Good Friday is one of the most significant Christian observations in Australia, along with Christmas. It is a time when Australians in employment have the right to take the day off work with regular pay. However, in recent years, this tradition has changed, and some businesses may request employees to work on public holidays.
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Good Friday is a day of mourning
Good Friday is a public holiday in Australia, as well as in other countries. It is a Christian holy day that commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum.
The day is also known as "Holy Friday", "Great Friday", "Great and Holy Friday", or "Friday of the Passion of the Lord". The term "Good" in Good Friday has been debated, with some believing it stems from "God's Friday" or "God Friday". Despite the sombre nature of the day, it is considered "good" because it celebrates Jesus' victory over sin and death, ensuring that humanity will never be separated from God.
In Australia, Good Friday is a day when banks, offices, and some shops are closed. Restricted shop trading laws apply, with only exempted businesses permitted to open. Alcohol licences in several states also prevent the sale of alcohol on this day.
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![Bank Holiday [Region 4]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41UGD2C3FyL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Easter Saturday in Australia
Good Friday is a public holiday in Australia, and it always falls on a Friday. The day after Good Friday is Easter Saturday, which is also a public holiday in some Australian states. In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), New South Wales, the Northern Territory, and South Australia, the day is officially gazetted as "Easter Saturday". In Queensland, it is known as "the day after Good Friday", and in Victoria, it is called "Saturday before Easter Sunday".
On public holidays in Australia, banks, offices, and some shops are typically closed. Restricted shop trading laws apply to Good Friday, Christmas Day, and Anzac Day, where only exempted businesses are permitted to open for trading. If a public holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute public holiday is sometimes observed on the following weekday, usually a Monday. This means that a three-day weekend is colloquially known as a "long weekend".
In 2024, the week beginning with Easter Monday on April 21 will end with Anzac Day on Friday, April 25, resulting in a three-day work week for many Australians.
The public holidays surrounding Easter in Australia vary each year, as they are determined by the Western Christian calendar. However, Easter Saturday is consistently observed as a public holiday in several Australian states, and it falls on the day after Good Friday, which is also a public holiday.
In addition to Easter-related holidays, Australia also observes other Christian celebrations such as Christmas and nationwide public holidays like Australia Day (January 26) and Anzac Day (April 25).
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![Bank Holiday [Region 4]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41P07ZToxYL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Good Friday in Italy and the Vatican
Good Friday in Italy is a solemn day of religious observance that occurs in the lead-up to Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. It is not a public holiday, and businesses operate as usual. However, it is one of the most important days in the Catholic Church's calendar, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ as written in the Christian Bible. In Italian, Good Friday is called "Venerdì Santo", which translates to Holy Friday, clearly alluding to its religious significance.
On this day, Italians engage in various rituals and traditions. Some choose to fast or eat only fish, a practice observed on Fridays during the period of Lent. Statues in churches are draped in black or purple covers, symbolising mourning and solemnity. Large processions take place across cities and towns, with participants carrying religious symbols such as crosses. The most famous procession is the Way of the Cross, or Via Dolorosa, in Rome, where tens of thousands gather to witness the Pope leading a torchlit procession from the Colosseum to Palatine Hill.
In 2025, Good Friday coincided with U.S. Vice President JD Vance's visit to Italy for tariff talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Vice President Vance, along with his family, attended a Good Friday service inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, led by Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti. This blending of religious observance and international diplomacy showcases the cultural and religious significance of Good Friday in Italy and beyond.
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Businesses open on Good Friday
Good Friday is a public holiday in Australia, and it falls on a Friday. Banks, offices, and some shops are usually closed on public holidays. However, in recent years, businesses have started opening on public holidays due to customer demand.
On Good Friday, some businesses may be required to remain closed, regardless of their usual public holiday exemptions. For example, shops are not allowed to sell alcohol to customers, so bottle shops will typically be closed. In South Australia, whether a business can open may be linked to the total floor size of the premises. In New South Wales, businesses must apply for an exemption to open on restricted days, except for small shops, which are defined as employing four or fewer staff and no more than two owners sharing profits.
Some businesses that are allowed to open on public holidays include restaurants, cafes, takeaway outlets, hotels, petrol stations, chemists, and hardware stores. Small businesses are generally considered "exempt" from trading hour restrictions, while non-exempt retailers, supermarkets, and department stores are the most restricted in their opening hours.
Public holidays vary across states and territories, and so do the restrictions that apply. Trading hours are deregulated in the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, meaning there are no restrictions in place, including on public holidays. In New South Wales, there are some restrictions on specific public holidays, including Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day before 1 pm, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. In Queensland, trading hours are regulated by the government, with restrictions in place on public holidays according to location and/or type of business.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Good Friday is a bank holiday in Australia. It is also a day of mourning, in which Christians meditate on Jesus's suffering and death.
A bank holiday is a public holiday in which banks, offices, and some shops are closed.
Yes, the day after Good Friday is also a public holiday, as are Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.
Yes, there are several other public holidays in Australia, including New Year's Day, Australia Day, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
