Good Friday in Canada: Traditions and Customs

Good Friday in Canada is one of the most sacred days on the Christian calendar. Marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, this solemn holiday holds deep spiritual meaning for Christians worldwide. Good Friday stands as a federal statutory holiday in Canada, providing a day of contemplation and rest for the faithful and non-religious alike.

Christianity remains the nation’s largest religion. As a core part of Canadian identity, Good Friday offers insight into a definitive aspect of Canadian heritage and national life. This guide explores its origins, traditions, and unique standing as a public holiday across the provinces.

When is Good Friday Celebrated in Canada?

Good Friday’s date is variable as it is tied to the lunar calendar and the spring equinox. It is always the Friday before Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after the ecclesiastical approximation of the March equinox. This means Good Friday can fall between March 20 and April 23.

Here are the upcoming dates for Good Friday in Canada over the next decade:

Is Good Friday a Public Holiday in Canada?

Yes, Good Friday is a public holiday across Canada, with the exception of Quebec, where the day is partially observed.

At the federal level, it is designated as a statutory holiday under the Canada Labour Code. This guarantees a paid day off for employees in federally regulated sectors, including:

• Banking employees
• Postal workers
• Those in the aviation and railway industries
• Telecommunications workers
• Federal civil servants

Beyond federally regulated sectors, Good Friday is also a statutory holiday in the provinces. All public services shut down, including federal and provincial government offices, courts, libraries, public schools, and post offices. Most retail stores close or operate on reduced hours, except for some grocery and convenience stores. Banks and offices also close.

While Quebec does not designate Good Friday as a statutory holiday for all workers, many employers still provide the day off based on collective agreements. Schools and post offices close in Quebec on Good Friday, and retail stores must close by law until 1:00 p.m.

What Do Canadians Do on Good Friday?

Good Friday marks a solemn occasion for Christians across Canada. Many attend church services held between 12 pm to 3 pm to commemorate Jesus’ crucifixion during those hours. Special masses, sermons, and prayers take place, often focused on the Stations of the Cross, including:

• His condemnation before Pontius Pilate
• Carrying the cross to Calvary
• The crucifixion and death of Jesus

Some churches conduct Passion plays recreating the Easter story. Others practice veneration of the cross, kneeling before a crucifix in prayer. For Catholics, Good Friday involves fasting or abstaining from meat.

Beyond religious services, Canadians enjoy hot cross buns, a sweet pastry marked with an icing cross. Friends and extended families gather for meals or vacations during the long weekend kick-started by Good Friday. The day off provides a chance to travel, spend time outdoors, or simply relax at home.

Are Stores and Restaurants Open on Good Friday in Canada?

Retail closures depend on provincial and territorial regulations. In Ontario, all stores must close unless exempted locally. Grocery stores, convenience stores, and pharmacies stay open. Other provinces also restrict retail, particularly in the morning. By afternoon, stores can open using reduced hours.

Restaurant opening also varies. In provinces mandating closures, some eateries may still operate on holidays. Restaurants remain open as usual in areas with no restrictions, such as British Columbia. Those wanting to dine out on Good Friday can call ahead to confirm hours.

Shopping malls follow retail closing rules, though anchors like drug stores inside may open. Movie theatres usually close in provinces with mandated closures and reduce hours elsewhere. Public parks and recreational facilities also often close or operate fewer hours.

Good Friday shoppers should plan, as most retailers outside of groceries and pharmacies stay closed. Restaurants also close in some areas, though limited dining options exist regionally.

Is Good Friday a Paid Day Off in Canada?

For most Canadian workers, Good Friday comes with paid time off. The Canada Labour Code mandates that most employees receive a regular day’s pay even while not working on a statutory holiday.

To qualify for holiday pay, federally regulated workers must:

• Have worked for their employer for at least 30 days
• Have earned wages on at least 15 of the 30 days prior to the holiday

Provincially, eligibility varies slightly but generally depends on satisfying “last and first” rules by working the scheduled shift before and after the holiday, barring valid reasons like illness.

The ESA requires employers to calculate holiday pay based on the four-week average, dividing total regular wages earned in the pay periods prior to the holiday by 20. This determines the regular day’s pay provided.

Some employers substitute another day off with pay instead. Good Friday employees receive 1.5 times their wage plus the statutory holiday pay.

What Happens If You Must Work on Good Friday in Canada?

Some employers, such as hospitals, police, transit, and radio stations, require staffing even on holidays. Canada’s employment laws protect these employees’ right to fair compensation.

Unless allowed substitution with a different paid day off, those required to work on Good Friday receive:

• Regular daily wage as statutory holiday pay
• 1.5 times their hourly wage for hours worked on Good Friday

Employers cannot threaten or punish workers who ask to take Good Friday off. Refusal without a valid business reason constitutes unjust dismissal under Canadian law. Those pressured unfairly to work Good Friday should seek legal counsel to protect their rights.

Traditions and Customs: How Canadians Celebrate Good Friday

Canadians mark Good Friday according to family heritage, faith, and regional norms. Key observances include:

Church Services: Attending mass or service is the most common tradition. Even less devout Canadians often attend a Good Friday service.

Fasting: Many Catholics fast or only eat fish on Good Friday. Fasting shows sorrow for Jesus’ sacrifice.

Hot Cross Buns: These sweet, spiced buns get their name from the cross topping the glazed treats. Hot cross buns are a seasonal tradition.

Family Time: Secular Canadians embrace the statutory holiday to spend quality time with loved ones. The long weekend offers opportunities to travel or share meals.

Jesus Processions: In some churches, a Jesus figure is walked around the altar and building in a reenactment of the Passion and crucifixion.

No Meat: Good Friday menus focus on vegetables, fish, eggs, and dairy, excluding meat in remembrance of Christ’s suffering.

Alfombras: In parts of Hispanic Canada, colourful sawdust carpets, called alfombras, decorate streets during processions.

Passion Plays: Theatrical church productions may retell the Easter story from Jesus’ Last Supper through the Resurrection.

Children’s Activities: Sunday school classes teach the meaning of Easter through crafts, games, and reenactments of Holy Week events.

Key Facts and Statistics on Good Friday in Canada

• Christianity is the largest religion in Canada, with approximately 53.3% of Canadians belonging to a Christian denomination. Catholicism remains the most widely practiced form.
• In a 2023 survey, 61.7% of Canadians planned to celebrate Easter. Good Friday and Easter retain relevance even for some non-religious people.
• Good Friday became a federal holiday in 1886, when a law passed in the Canadian Parliament under Prime Minister John A. Macdonald took effect.
• Quebec banned nearly all retail trade on Catholic holy days, including Good Friday, until 2018. Now, stores may voluntarily open, though school and government closures remain.
• The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 1986 that closing laws prohibiting retail activity on holidays like Good Friday served a valid public purpose and did not violate Canada’s Charter rights regarding freedom of religion.

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
• Easter
• Victoria Day
• Canada Day
• Labour Day
• Thanksgiving
• Remembrance Day
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day

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