An Australian resident who is an Indian citizen shared a video comparing the vacation systems in Australia and India. This video sparked active discussion on social media.
Aditya Hanedja, who has lived in Australia for the past ten years, noted that Australians really enjoy spending time with entertainment. He provided examples of various festivals in different states, mentioning that weekends are granted even for events such as sporting competitions, horse races, and fairs.
In his video, Aditya mentioned the Melbourne Cup Day, when a day off is given to watch the races. Furthermore, he also referenced the Queensland Royal Show and Darwin Picnic Day. In his opinion, these holidays exist so that people can spend time with family or friends. He also cited the AFL Grand Final Holiday, when people are given a day off on Friday for relaxation and fun.
Comparing the systems, Aditya explained that in India, holidays are often linked to religious, national, and cultural events, citing Diwali and Independence Day as examples. Meanwhile, in Australia, many public holidays are tied to local traditions, sporting events, and regional occurrences. This difference seemed interesting to Aditya.
Nevertheless, in India, the number and types of holidays vary depending on the state, institution, and government calendar. The 2026 calendar includes regional and religious holidays for the states in addition to national holidays.
Aditya pointed out another aspect of Australian holidays: in some cases, if a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, a day off may be granted on the following day. He noted that this differs from the situation in India. However, he clarified that this is not a universal rule for all public holidays across Australia; rules regarding holidays and substitute days can vary by state and region.
Aditya concluded that perhaps this specific holiday culture is one of the reasons Australians are called 'laid-back'.
Aditya's video generated mixed reactions among social media users. Some agreed with his statements, while others felt he had exaggerated the Australian holiday culture too humorously. One user wrote: 'Very correct,' while another reported that such days off are not provided in New South Wales.