New Year’s Day in Canada: Holiday Pay, Traditions, Insights

New Year’s Day in Canada represents a time of renewal and new beginnings. As the calendar flips to January 1st, Canadians from coast to coast mark the occasion through festive celebrations, family gatherings, and cultural traditions.

As one of the most widely observed statutory holidays in Canada, New Year’s Day offers the chance to reflect on the past year while looking ahead to the promise of the year to come.

When is New Year’s Day Celebrated in Canada?

New Year’s Day is celebrated on January 1 every year in Canada. It marks the start of the new year and is a public holiday across the country.

Upcoming New Year’s Days will be observed on the following days:

Is New Year’s Day a public holiday in Canada?

Yes. New Year’s Day is a statutory holiday under federal and all provincial/territorial employment laws. This means employers must follow specific rules about pay and time off. 

The Canada Labour Code designates New Year’s Day as a holiday for federally regulated workers, which includes about 6% of Canadian workers in sectors like banking, telecommunications, interprovincial transportation, and federal government operations. For the remaining 94% of workers, provincial laws also recognize New Year’s Day as a statutory holiday.

If New Year’s Day is on a day off, the observed day changes depending on where you are. Federally, employees get paid for the workday right before or after, but provinces and territories have their own rules, so it’s important to check local guidelines.

What are Employment Rights on New Year’s Day?

A statutory holiday requires employers to provide legal benefits to eligible employees. If they take the day off, they receive pay equal to their average daily earnings. If they work on New Year’s Day, they get their holiday pay plus extra compensation: either 1.5 times their regular hourly rate for hours worked, or their regular pay plus a paid day off later. 

Keep in mind that rules about who is eligible, how pay is calculated, and premium compensation can vary widely by location.

Here’s a table showing the differences in statutory holiday rules across provinces:

Source: 2026 Canada Statutory Holiday Pay Guide (By Province) – employmenthero.com

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not legal, tax, or HR advice. Employment rules for New Year’s Day (such as eligibility, substitution days, and pay calculations) vary under federal and provincial/territorial laws and can change. Always check the relevant laws or consult your local employment standards authority before making HR or payroll decisions. 

Who Gets Paid for New Year’s Day in Canada?

Whether you get paid for New Year’s Day depends on your job type and the specific rules set by federal or provincial laws. Below are the eligibility requirements by employment type:

Who is not Eligible for New Year’s Day Pay?

4 specific types of workers who are not eligible for New Year’s Day pay include:

• Independent contractors who are self-employed.
• Employees who quit or were fired before January 1.
• Those who do not meet the minimum workday requirements in their area.
• Employees who miss shifts before or after the holiday without a good reason.

Additionally, employees on unpaid leave before and after the holiday should check local rules, as eligibility can vary. Normally, workers who started after January 1 will not qualify for that year’s pay. And those with less than 30 days of employment typically do not meet the eligibility criteria.

Source: Statutory holiday pay – canada.ca

What are the origins and history of New Year’s Day in Canada?

The tradition of celebrating the start of a new year on January 1st originates in ancient Roman culture. The early Roman calendar consisted of 10 months, totalling 304 days, with the new year beginning in March. However, in 153 BC, the Romans moved the start of the new year from March to January.

The beginning of the year was relocated to January, named after the Roman god Janus. Janus was known as the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, and endings. He was often depicted as having two faces looking in opposite directions, one towards the past and the other towards the future, representing the transition from one year to the next.

Over the centuries, different dates were used to mark the new year across the Christian world, including December 25th and March 25th. It wasn’t until 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar, that January 1st was widely adopted as the start of the new year.

The Gregorian calendar corrected discrepancies in the previous Julian calendar, introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC. By adopting the Gregorian calendar, Canadian territories aligned their New Year celebrations with most other Western nations.

Indigenous peoples across Canada also marked the winter solstice in December as the start of a new annual cycle, according to their cultural traditions. The solstice signified the sun’s rebirth and the beginning of longer days.

Source: Is New Year’s Day a Public Holiday? – timeanddate.com

How do Canadians celebrate New Year’s Day?

Canadians celebrate New Year’s Eve on December 31st with parties and events that continue well into New Year’s Day. The most prominent public New Year’s Eve celebrations across Canada include:

• Ottawa: Ottawa’s main Scottish celebration is Hogmanay Ceilidh 2025 – From the Streets of Edinburgh! at Blessed Sacrament Hall.
• Vancouver: Several private NYE cruises are available, like the Magic Spirit. The city doesn’t have city-run NYE fireworks, but you might find fireworks at local ski mountains or from private displays.
• Toronto: Toronto’s official New Year’s Eve fireworks are at the waterfront.

The atmosphere is lively and energetic as people count down the final seconds until midnight. Noisemakers, party horns, and fireworks fill the air as the clock strikes 12. Friends exchange hugs and good wishes, often toasting the new year with champagne.

Many families also have private celebrations and gatherings on New Year’s Eve. Traditions include:

• Preparing culturally symbolic foods like lentils, pork, and grapes
• Making resolutions for self-improvement in the new year
• Playing games like bingo or karaoke
• Holding religious services and prayers

New Year’s Day itself is calmer, often spent recuperating from the excitement of celebrations. Many Canadians enjoy relaxed activities like:

• Winter walks and skating
• Returning home from holiday travels
• Watching New Year’s Day sports tournaments
• Resting and enjoying time off work

Making thoughtful and achievable resolutions is a common New Year’s Day practice for many Canadians.

What foods and symbols are associated with New Year’s Day in Canada?

Certain foods are considered good luck if eaten on New Year’s Day in Canadian culture:

• Lentils: Signify prosperity in the new year due to their coin-like shape. Eaten for wealth.
• Grapes: Represent blessings for each month of the year. Twelve grapes are consumed as the clock strikes midnight.
• Pork: Abundance because pigs “root forward” when foraging for food.
• Pomegranates: Fertility and fruitfulness. The seeds symbolize prosperity.
• Rice cakes: Having a full pantry in the year ahead. Ring-shaped cakes were eaten for good fortune.
• Herring: Fish shaped like coins, some Eastern Europeans ate for financial luck.
• Québec tourtière: It often appears at Réveillon/Jour de l’An tables.

The traditional Canadian New Year’s meal tends to be a hearty, warm feast, often including dishes like:

• Roast turkey or ham
• Mashed or scalloped potatoes
• Vegetables like green beans or carrots
• Stuffing or dressing
• Breads and spreads
• Decadent desserts like cakes and pies

Champagne, sparkling wine, and cider are common drinks to toast the new year. Some families also enjoy mulled wine or hot chocolate.

What’s Open and Closed on New Year’s Day in Canada?

On New Year’s Day, government offices, banks, and many businesses are closed, but essential services and some retailers are still open. Here’s the status of various offices on this holiday:

Source: What’s open and closed on New Year’s Day in Canada – ctvnews.ca

Therefore, when planning for New Year’s Day in Canada, be sure to plan ahead. Business hours can vary by province, so it’s a good idea to check each business’s website. Stock up on essentials before the holiday, and if you want to visit attractions or restaurants, confirm their hours and make reservations in advance. 

Canada is a multicultural country that celebrates many holidays and festivals throughout the year. Some of the major Canadian holidays include:

• Family Day
• St. Patrick’s Day
• Good Friday
• Easter
• Victoria Day
• Canada Day
• Civic Holiday
• Labour Day
• Thanksgiving
• Remembrance Day
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day

Ringing in the new year is a significant cultural event celebrated across Canada. Cities and communities welcome January 1st through festive events, food traditions, family gatherings, and spiritual practices. The statutory holiday offers a chance for reflection on the past year while anticipating the promises of renewal ahead.

FAQs on New Year’s Day in Canada