Boxing Day in Canada: Traditions and Celebrations

Boxing Day is an annual statutory holiday in Canada and other Commonwealth countries, celebrated on December 26th. It originated in the United Kingdom and is now a beloved tradition up north. Boxing Day 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.

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

When is Boxing Day in Canada?

Boxing Day always falls on December 26th, immediately after Christmas Day in Canada. Boxing Day never changes from its set date. You can expect sales, ice hockey, and festivities every year on this set date.

The table below shows when Boxing Day falls in Canada for 2024, 2025, and the upcoming years.

Is Boxing Day a Public Holiday in Canada?

Boxing Day is a statutory holiday in certain Canadian provinces but is not uniformly observed across the country:

• No holiday status in Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia – Boxing Day is not an official public holiday in these provinces. Retail stores remain open.
• Saskatchewan – It is a public sector holiday for government services, but not all businesses are closed.
• Retail closing laws – Most stores are closed in provinces like New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Ontario.
• Provinces observing Boxing Day – It is a statutory holiday in areas like Ontario, Manitoba, Nova Scotia etc. Most retailers and businesses are closed.

The table below summarizes the public holiday status of Boxing Day by province:

As shown, Boxing Day is a full statutory holiday in most eastern provinces but is not recognized as an official public holiday in western provinces like British Columbia and Alberta.

Each Canadian province and territory has its own public holiday legislation. You can explore more about provincial statutory holidays below:

• Statutory Holidays in British Columbia
• Statutory Holidays in Alberta
• Statutory Holidays in Northwest Territories
• Statutory Holidays in Yukon
• Statutory Holidays in Prince Edward Island
• Statutory Holidays in New Brunswick
• Statutory Holidays in Quebec

How Do Canadians Celebrate Boxing Day?

Over the decades, Boxing Day has evolved into a celebration characterized by huge sales, hockey tournaments, charity, and family time.

Popular ways Canadians celebrate include:

• Shopping – Major retailers launch massive Boxing Day sales with deep discounts on items. Shoppers will lineup overnight to get the best deals.
• Sports – Major hockey tournaments like the World Juniors start on December 26th. Watching hockey is a beloved Boxing Day pastime.
• Time Off – Many Canadians get the day off work on December 26th if they live in a province that observes the statutory holiday.
• Visiting – People visit family and friends on Boxing Day since it falls during the holiday season.
• Charity – Food drives and fundraising campaigns ramp up on Boxing Day to give back.
• Parades & Parties – Communities across Canada organize Boxing Day parades and celebrations.
• Leftovers – It’s a tradition to eat leftovers from Christmas dinner the next day.

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.

• Major retailers like Best Buy, The Gap, and Toys R Us launch their post-Christmas sales on December 26th, offering deep discounts.
• Eager shoppers will line up overnight or wake up very early to be among the first in stores like Walmart and secure the best deals.
• The frenzy is now often referred to as “Boxing Week” instead of “Boxing Day” since sales can last for several days.
• Popular items people shop for are new TVs, gift cards, toys, clothing, electronics, Christmas decor, and more.
• Both brick-and-mortar retail stores and online e-commerce sites offer major sales.

Hockey Tournaments

Boxing Day hockey is a beloved tradition, with the World Juniors competition captivating households across the nation.

• Major hockey tournaments like the IIHF World Junior Championship begin on Boxing Day and run for about 10 days.
• The Canadian men’s national junior team performs exceptionally well in these tournaments, often medaling.
• Hundreds of thousands of Canadians stay home to excitedly watch the games on TV and cheer on Team Canada.
• Other hockey tournaments, like the Spengler Cup in Switzerland, also attract viewers on TV.
• Before mass broadcasting, fans actually attended matches in person on Boxing Day.

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.

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.

Boxing Day vs. St. Stephen’s Day

Here is a table comparing Boxing Day and St. Stephen’s Day:

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

How 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:

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.

December 26th is a day to eat leftovers, cheer on the nation’s hockey teams, find great bargains, relax, give back to charity, and reconnect with loved ones. In Canada, Boxing Day has indeed become an exciting and unifying holiday all of its own!

FAQs related to Boxing Day in Canada