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This year, Good Friday falls on 18 April and will begin the four-day Easter long weekend.
For over 11 million Christians in Australia, it marks the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ following 40 days of reflection during Lent.
It’s also the first time since 2017 that both Western and Orthodox Easter celebrations have aligned.
Here’s your guide to which businesses will be open or operating under alcohol and trading restrictions.
What’s open on Good Friday?
Woolworths stores will be closed nationwide, with some exceptions in South Australia, Western Australia and at Brisbane Airport, Queensland.
All Coles supermarkets will be closed, except for Victor Harbor, Murray Bridge Green and Mount Barker in South Australia.
Aldi, Big W, Bunnings, Australia Post, and Westfield shopping centres will also shut.
In NSW, the takeaway sale of alcohol is banned, and drinks can only be served on premises between midday and 10pm.
In Victoria, bottle shops will be closed while licensed venues can serve alcohol from midday to 1am.
People in Queensland and Western Australia can only buy alcohol with a meal at licensed venues.
In South Australia, the ACT and Tasmania, there are no limits on alcohol sales for public holidays.
However, gambling at hotels and clubs will not be permitted across the country.
What’s open on Easter Saturday?
Most major supermarkets, including Aldi and retail stores, will be open.
All Woolworths supermarkets will reopen, except for some Metro outlets.
Coles stores will be open on Saturday.
Most stores will be operating according to holiday trading hours, and opening hours may depend on where you are.
What’s open on Easter Sunday?
In NSW, most businesses cannot open on Easter Sunday unless they have obtained a special exemption. Services including petrol stations, pharmacies and small grocers generally operate.
In South Australia, retail trading is restricted to the Adelaide CBD and in Western Australia to Greater Perth. In both states, stores in these regions will only open between 11am to 5pm.
In Queensland, small independent retailers can operate without restriction but larger retailers, including supermarkets and department stores, will mostly be only allowed to open from 9am to 6pm.
In Victoria, ACT and Tasmania, no restrictions apply.
What’s open on Easter Monday?
Most businesses will reopen. In Queensland, large retailers including supermarkets and department stores will have the same restrictions as Easter Sunday.
In South Australia, only some supermarkets will be open. Those in the Adelaide CBD can only operate from 10am to 5pm.
In Western Australia, general retailers can only open from 8am to 6pm.
Why does the date for Easter change each year?
Easter is recognised as a movable feast, meaning it can fall as early as 22 March — the last time this happened was 1818 — or as late as 25 April, as occurred in 1934.
The date varies each year as Easter is determined by a lunar calendar, which follows the movement of the Earth and Moon.
But some Christian denominations use different calculations and calendars to determine the date.
Orthodox churches follow the Julian calendar, which is currently 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar, which Western churches adhere to.
The two Easter celebrations will collide in 2025, an overlap that occurs approximately every three to four years.
This year also marks 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea, regarded by most Christians as the first major meeting of the church.
The anniversary has reignited the debate among some Christians, including Pope Francis, who called for a unified Easter date earlier this year.
The move has been disputed by leaders for centuries, who have not agreed on a reformed date.
