Easter Monday

Please note that due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, all public masses have been suspended as of March 18, 2020. Please check with your church to see if there is an online streaming of their mass services

Easter Monday is a public holiday in Australia and will next be observed on Monday the 12th of April 2021.

Easter Monday follows Easter Sunday which is a Christian festival which, according to tradition, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death. According to the New Testament, this occurred on the third day of his burial in 30AD.

The Easter long weekend in Australia will be celebrated with a number of public holidays starting with Good Friday on the 10th of April, Easter Saturday on the 11th of April, Easter Sunday on the 12th of April and Easter Monday on the 13th of April. This has the effect of creating a 4 day long weekend for Australians which means that many families use this time to travel and spend time with their family and friends.

Melbournians celebrate the extended Easter Holiday in a traditional way by not eating meat on Good Friday (except fish) and giving chocolate eggs on Easter Sunday.

One of the most notable events on Easter Monday is the Stawell Gift running race held in Stawell, near the Grampians. The Stawell Gift Foot race draws thousands of visitors to this town every year and the main attraction is a 120-metre race run over an uphill gradient which offers $40,000 in prize money.

Please note that some retail shops will be closed on Easter Monday as it is a public holiday. However, you will find larger stores and supermarkets, such as Chadstone, Highpoint, Coles, Woolworths and Dan Murphy’s open on Easter Monday. Service stations and restaurants also remain open as it is a popular time for family get-togethers.

You will also find a huge range of attractions in Melbourne which remain open on Easter Monday including the Melbourne Zoo, Eureka Skydeck, the Observation Wheel and the Melbourne Museum.

As thousands of people travel during the Easter long weekend, there is a lot of traffic on the road and accommodation books up quickly. If you are interested in taking a holiday over the long weekend, click the link below to find the best accommodation deals. Don’t hesitate, as holiday accommodation is very popular during this time.