Boxing Day is an annual statutory holiday in Canada celebrated on December 26th in Canada and other Commonwealth countries. 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.
Origins and History of Boxing Day
Boxing Day in Canada dates back many centuries and has a few possible origin stories:
- Gifting to Servants: Aristocrats would box up money, food, gifts, and bonuses to give to their servants, staff, and employees on December 26th to appreciate their service throughout the year. This is where the name “Boxing Day” likely comes from.
- Church Alms Boxes: Churches placed alms boxes to collect donations from parishioners over the Advent season. On Boxing Day, the church would distribute the contents to the poor.
- Connections to St. Stephen’s Day: December 26th is also known as St. Stephen’s Day, named after the Christian martyr St. Stephen. It’s believed the name Boxing Day may have derived from the opening of church poor boxes on this date.
- Good King Wenceslas: The classic Christmas carol tells the legend of a King providing food and wine to a poor peasant while surveying his land on December 26th, the Feast of Stephen. This may have helped inspire the charitable giving tradition.
Boxing Day became an official bank holiday in England, Wales, Ireland and Canada in 1871 during Queen Victoria’s reign.
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 of December 26th. 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.
| Year | Date | Day |
| 2024 | December 26th | Thursday |
| 2025 | December 26th | Friday |
| 2026 | December 26th | Saturday |
| 2027 | December 26th | Sunday |
| 2028 | December 26th | Tuesday |
| 2029 | December 26th | Wednesday |
| 2030 | December 26th | Thursday |
Is Boxing Day a Public Holiday in Canada?
Boxing Day is a statutory holiday in certain Canadian provinces but 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:
| Province | Public Holiday Status |
| Ontario | Statutory holiday |
| Quebec | Not a public holiday |
| Alberta | Not a public holiday |
| British Columbia | Not a public holiday |
| Saskatchewan | Public sector holiday only |
| Manitoba | Statutory holiday |
| New Brunswick | Statutory holiday |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | Statutory holiday |
| Nova Scotia | Statutory holiday |
| Prince Edward Island | Statutory holiday |
As shown, Boxing Day is a full statutory holiday in most eastern provinces but 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
- 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.
Boxing Day is the Black Friday equivalent in Canada, with huge crowds and bargains to kick off the post-holiday shopping season.
Hockey Tournaments
- 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.
Boxing Day hockey is a beloved tradition, with the World Juniors competition captivating households across the nation.
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.
Getting together with loved ones to indulge in holiday leftovers is part of Boxing Day’s enduring appeal.
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
While Boxing Day is primarily a secular holiday, St. Stephen’s Day is the religious celebration held on December 26th each year.
Key Differences:
- St. Stephen’s Day commemorates the Christian martyr St. Stephen and has ties back to the church.
- Boxing Day is the more commercial and cultural celebration focused on sales, sports and family.
- Some parts of Canada, like Newfoundland, still refer to the day as St. Stephen’s Day rather than Boxing Day.
Overall, Boxing Day and St. Stephen’s Day fall on the exact same date – December 26th. Boxing Day is simply the more mainstream secular holiday.
Origins of the Name “Boxing Day”
Scholars debate the exact origins of the name “Boxing Day.” Here are the most widely believed theories:
- Servant Boxes – The “boxes” refer to Christmas boxes filled with small gifts, money, or bonuses given to servants, employees, tradespeople and the poor.
- Church Alms Boxes – Churches would open their donation boxes collected over Advent and distribute to the needy.
- Leftover Food – Households would box up leftovers from lavish Christmas feasts and give them to servants.
While the exact origin is unclear, the “box” historically referred to end-of-year gifts and alms for workers, servants and the poor.
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:
| 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.
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!
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
FAQs related to Boxing Day in Canada
When is Boxing Day in 2024?
In 2024, Boxing Day falls on Thursday, December 26th.
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 is Boxing Day in Canada?
Boxing Day is a statutory holiday celebrated on December 26th annually in Canada. It originated as a tradition of giving gifts and charity to workers and the poor.
What's open on Boxing Day in Canada?
Retail stores are typically open for big sales. Grocery stores, pharmacies and malls usually open too but with shorter hours.
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.
What's the difference between Boxing Day and St Stephen's Day in Canada?
St Stephen's Day is a religious celebration while Boxing Day is a more cultural and commercial holiday in Canada.
How do Canadians celebrate Boxing Day?
Canadians celebrate with shopping sales, ice hockey tournaments, parades, parties, charity events and feasting on leftovers from Christmas.