Boxing Day is a federal holiday in Canada, celebrated on December 26th, but its workplace rules vary by province. For example, in Ontario, it’s a paid holiday. In Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, it’s a retail-closing day, but not a paid day. In Newfoundland and Labrador, it’s a holiday under the Shops’ Closing Act, but it’s also not paid. In British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, it’s not a statutory holiday.
The day originated in the United Kingdom and is now a beloved tradition in the north. It is marked by massive sales, sporting events, family gatherings, parades, and charity events.
Let’s take a closer look at what makes Boxing Day such a special and eagerly awaited day across the country.
When is Boxing Day in Canada?
Boxing Day always falls on December 26, immediately after Christmas Day in Canada. You can expect sales, ice hockey, and festivities every year on this date.
The table below shows when Boxing Day falls in Canada for 2026 and the upcoming years.
| Year | Date |
| 2025 | Friday, December 26 |
| 2026 | Saturday, December 26 |
| 2027 | Sunday, December 26 |
| 2028 | Tuesday, December 26 |
| 2029 | Wednesday, December 26 |
| 2030 | Thursday, December 26 |
If December 26 falls on a day off, employees still receive their holiday benefit, as the holiday is moved to the next working day. This is known as a “substitute day.”
In cases where both Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on a weekend, the rules are as follows:
- Christmas Day is moved to the first working day.
- Boxing Day is moved to the second working day.
However, different provinces may handle this differently. So, always check your province’s employment rules for details.
Is Boxing Day a Public Holiday in Canada?
Yes, Boxing Day is a federal holiday in Canada, but not everyone observes it the same way. It is considered a “general holiday” under the Canada Labour Code for employees in federally regulated industries, such as banks, telecommunications companies, interprovincial transportation, and the federal government.
However, federal designation does not automatically mean all Canadian workers receive the day off. Whether you have the day off depends on your employer’s industry and your province, so Boxing Day’s status varies by location.
Here’s the Boxing Day status in each Canadian province and territory:
| Province/Territory | Holiday Status |
| Federal | Statutory Holiday |
| Ontario | Statutory Holiday |
| Alberta | Optional Holiday |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | Not Statutory |
| Nova Scotia | Not Statutory |
| New Brunswick | Not Statutory |
| Prince Edward Island | Not Statutory |
| Quebec | Not Statutory |
| Manitoba | Not Statutory |
| Saskatchewan | Not Statutory |
| British Columbia | Not Statutory |
| Northwest Territories | Not Statutory |
| Nunavut | Not Statutory |
| Yukon | Not Statutory |
This difference highlights the variation in statutory holidays across Canada. Because each province and territory sets its own rules in addition to the national holidays, you can see that the number of holidays can look very different depending on where you live or work.
What are Employment Rights on Boxing Day in Canada?
Boxing Day is a federal holiday in Canada. If you work in a federally regulated industry, you are entitled to holiday pay according to the Canada Labour Code. However, the rules for Boxing Day vary by province. Therefore, always check your jurisdiction’s regulations and your collective agreement or contract.
Here are the entitlements, eligibility criteria, and pay calculations for each statutory province and territory in Canada:
Federal Employees
Federal public service employees enjoy Boxing Day as a paid holiday. If Boxing Day falls on an employee’s day off, the holiday is moved to the next scheduled workday.
Eligibility: Indeterminate full-time workers get paid for all statutory holidays. Casual or term employees working full-time must work on the day before or the day after a holiday to receive pay for that day.
Holiday Pay: If you take leave without pay the day before and after a statutory holiday, you will not get paid for the holiday. Part-time employees do not receive paid holidays but are compensated with a premium. If you have a compressed workweek, you need to make up any hours lost for the holiday.
Source: Government of Canada – Statutory holiday pay
Ontario
Ontario recognizes Boxing Day (December 26) as a public holiday, and eligible employees can take the day off with pay.
Eligibility: Employees can be full-time, part-time, permanent, or on contract, regardless of when they were hired. They qualify unless they miss their last scheduled workday before the holiday or their first scheduled workday after the holiday, or if they do not work their entire shift on Boxing Day without a valid reason. (Last and First Rule)
Payment Calculation: Public holiday pay = (regular wages + vacation pay in the 4 work weeks before the week of December 26) / 20
Holiday Pay: If an employee agrees to work on Boxing Day, they have two choices:
- Get regular pay plus a substitute day off with pay.
- Receive public holiday pay plus 1.5 times their regular pay for hours worked.
Source: Government of Ontario – Public holidays
Alberta
In Alberta, Boxing Day is not one of Alberta’s nine general holidays, but employers can add more if they choose. If they do, all the rules for holiday pay apply to that day as well.
Eligibility: Employees need to have worked for the same employer for at least 30 days in the past year. Holiday pay depends on whether the holiday is a workday and whether the employee works that day.
Payment Calculation: The average daily wage = wages divided by days worked, using either the 4 weeks immediately before the holiday or the 4 weeks ending on the last day of the pay period immediately before the holiday
Holiday Pay: If an employee works on December 26, employers may either pay 1.5 times the regular rate plus the average daily wage, OR provide regular pay and a paid day off later at the average daily wage. If December 26 is not a regular workday, employees are not eligible for holiday pay or a day off.
Source: Government of Alberta – Employment standards – Alberta general holidays
Northwest Territories
Boxing Day is a designated paid holiday for employees covered by the Collective Agreement in this territory. As a result, workplace rules on December 26 depend on the contract.
Holiday Pay: If Boxing Day falls on an employee’s day off, the holiday is moved to the next working day. If required to work, employees will be paid double their hourly rate for all hours worked, OR an equivalent combination of cash and a future day off. If Boxing Day occurs while an employee is on paid leave, it does not count against their leave days.
Shift Workers who are not on a Monday to Friday schedule will receive a bank of paid holiday hours each April, calculated based on the number of holidays and their standard daily hours (7.5 or 8). These hours can be taken at a mutually agreed time and will be paid out if unused at the end of the fiscal year.
Source: Government of Northwest Territories – Article 16 – Designated Paid Holidays
Besides, employers must keep accurate records of hours worked and holiday pay and may need to give advance notice for holiday scheduling. If a collective agreement offers better terms than the law, employers must adhere to those terms.
In other provinces and territories, Boxing Day is not a statutory holiday. So generally, individual employers may decide to recognize it based on their policies or agreements.
Disclaimer: Rules differ significantly based on your employment type. So, make sure to understand your status and benefits when taking temporary or contract jobs to avoid confusion about pay.
How Do Canadians Celebrate Boxing Day?
Canadians celebrate Boxing Day in two main ways: a high-energy, public experience driven by commerce and sports, and a relaxed, private one centred on home and family. These modern traditions are layered over older customs, creating a day that is uniquely Canadian.
Below, we will explore some of Canada’s most popular Boxing Day traditions:
Boxing Day Shopping
Boxing Day is the Black Friday equivalent in Canada, with huge crowds and bargains to kick off the post-holiday shopping season.
In major hubs like Toronto and Vancouver, shoppers often camp out as early as 4:00 AM. Many retailers open their doors earlier than usual to manage the demand for deeply discounted items, particularly electronics, appliances, and winter apparel.
This shopping frenzy is no longer confined to a single day, with many retailers extending their promotions into “Boxing Week,” which can last until New Year’s Eve.
Hockey Tournaments
In 2025, the IIHF World Junior Championship starts on Boxing Day with several games, including Canada vs. Finland at 7:30 p.m. ET at Canadian Tire Centre. The Spengler Cup in Davos is from December 26 to 31.
Leftovers & Visiting Family
It’s customary for families to gather again on Boxing Day and feast on leftovers from Christmas dinner.
- Dishes like turkey sandwiches, roasted veggies, slices of ham, pies, Christmas cakes and other goodies get a second life.
- People visit extended family members and friends they couldn’t see on Christmas Day.
- Boxing Day meals are often potluck-style, with people contributing leftovers.
These casual meals are often accompanied by beverages such as red wine, ginger cocktails, and beer. This adds to the relaxed mood of post-Christmas gatherings.
Other Popular Boxing Day Traditions
Beyond the major celebrations, some other Boxing Day traditions include:
- Mumming: In parts of Newfoundland, people dress up in colourful costumes and masks and put on impromptu parades or plays known as mumming.
- Charity: Food drives, monetary donations, and major fundraising efforts happen nationwide on Boxing Day to give back.
- Parades: Community parades and festivals occur, much like a second Christmas celebration.
- Parties: Friends and neighbours get together for potlucks, gift exchanges, and parties on their day off.
How do Other Commonwealth Countries Celebrate Boxing Day?
Canada is not alone in its Boxing Day celebrations. Here is a comparison of festivities in other Commonwealth countries:
| Country | Traditions |
| United Kingdom | Shopping sales, football matches, fox hunting |
| Australia | Cricket matches, barbecues, beach trips |
| New Zealand | Picnics, sailing, shopping |
| South Africa | Music festivals, family time |
While the details vary, Commonwealth countries unite around sales, sports and family gatherings on Boxing Day.
Boxing Day maintains its charitable spirit while also evolving into a commercial holiday characterized by major shopping deals, world-class hockey, festive parades, parties with friends, and quality family time.
Boxing Day vs. St. Stephen’s Day
Here is a table comparing Boxing Day and St. Stephen’s Day:
| Holiday | Boxing Day | St. Stephen’s Day |
| Date | December 26 | December 26 |
| Origins | Name derived from Christmas “boxes” given as gifts to servants, employees, and the poor. | The name comes from Christian martyr St. Stephen, whose feast day falls on December 26. |
| Primary Association | Secular holiday associated with shopping sales, sports, and family gatherings. | Religious holiday commemorating St. Stephen and his martyrdom. |
| Regional Usage | Referred to as Boxing Day throughout most of Canada. | Still called St. Stephen’s Day in parts of Atlantic Canada, like Newfoundland. |
So, in summary, while both holidays fall on the same date, Boxing Day is mainly secular, while St. Stephen’s Day has religious roots and meanings. Boxing Day is the more widely used name nationwide.
Canada is a multicultural country that celebrates many holidays and festivals throughout the year. Some of the major Canadian holidays include:
- New Year’s Day
- Family Day
- St. Patrick’s Day
- Good Friday
- Easter
- Canada Day
- Labour Day
- Christmas Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Victoria Day
- Remembrance Day
What Are the Origins of Boxing Day in Canada?
Boxing Day takes place on December 26th every year. There are a few different stories about how it got its name and started as a holiday.
One idea is that wealthy families would put together boxes of money, food, and gifts for their servants. They gave them these “Christmas boxes” on December 26th as a special end-of-year thank you for all their hard work. This could be why it came to be called Boxing Day.
Another theory is that churches used to set up “alms boxes” before Christmas to gather donations for people in need. On the day after Christmas, the boxes would be opened, and everything inside would be given to the poor. Giving out these boxed-up donations might be how the holiday got its name.
December 26th is also St. Stephen’s Day, named after the first Christian martyr. Some think the name “Boxing Day” originally came from opening up church charity boxes on St. Stephen’s Day to give away the contents.
No one knows for sure, but most stories say the name comes from the tradition of packing up gifts, food, money, and other donations in boxes to hand out on December 26th. Even if the exact origin is unclear, giving to others has long been an important part of Boxing Day.
Source: Boxing Day – thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
FAQs related to Boxing Day in Canada
When is Boxing Day in 2025?
Boxing Day will be on Friday, December 26th in 2025.
When is Boxing Day in 2026?
In 2026, Boxing Day lands on Saturday, December 26th.
What's open on Boxing Day in Canada?
Retail stores are closed on Boxing Day in New Brunswick (Days of Rest Act), Nova Scotia (Retail Business Designated Day Closing Act), Prince Edward Island (Retail Business Holidays Act), and Newfoundland & Labrador (Shops’ Closing Act) due to local laws, so sales start on December 27 in those places. In other provinces, stores can open, but it depends on local rules and employer policies.
Do you get Boxing Day off work in Canada?
Some companies give employees Boxing Day off, especially in provinces where it is a statutory public holiday.
Are banks open on Boxing Day in Canada?
Banks are regulated by the federal government, so they close on Boxing Day.
When do Boxing Day sales start in Canada?
Boxing Day sales typically start on December 26th in most provinces. However, stores in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador remain closed on December 26th, with sales beginning December 27th instead.
Why do they call it Boxing Day in Canada?
The name comes from the Victorian-era British tradition of giving "Christmas boxes" filled with gifts, money, or leftovers to servants and tradesmen on December 26th. Canada inherited this tradition as a former British colony.
When does Boxing Day end in Canada?
Boxing Day officially ends on December 26th, but many retailers now extend sales through "Boxing Week" until New Year's Eve. The single-day holiday has evolved into a week-long shopping event.
