6.9 C
Cañada
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Employee BenefitsBenefits Canada NewsGood Friday in Canada: Traditions and Customs

Good Friday in Canada: Traditions and Customs

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Good Friday 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 comprehensive guide explores its origins, traditions, and unique standing as a public holiday across the provinces.

When is Good Friday Celebrated in Canada?

The date of Good Friday shifts annually, dictated by the lunar calendar that determines Easter. While the Western Christian Good Friday sometimes falls on a different date than the Orthodox Good Friday, both occur in spring before Easter Sunday.

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

YearDate of Good Friday
2024Friday, March 29th
2025Friday, April 18th
2026Friday, April 3
2027Friday, March 26
2028Friday, April 14
2029Friday, March 30
2030Friday, April 19
2031Friday, April 11
2032Friday, March 26
2033Friday, April 15
2034Friday, April 7

Some years, Good Friday arrives earlier in March, while in other years, it lands in April, but always before Easter. Most Canadians can reliably count on a long weekend in spring, with Good Friday beginning the break.

Is Good Friday a Public Holiday in Canada?

Is Good Friday in Canada a Public Holiday
Is Good Friday in Canada a Public Holiday

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

Good Friday is a federal statutory holiday under the Canada Labour Code, meaning most workers in Canada receive the day off with pay. This covers bank employees, those in the telecommunications sector, and other fields under federal jurisdiction, 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 statutory 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 kickstarted 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 groceries and pharmacies stay closed. Restaurants also close in some areas, though limited dining options exist regionally.

Does Canada Post Deliver Mail on Good Friday?

No, Canada Post suspends delivery and collection services nationwide on Good Friday. Post offices remain closed. The postal service considers Good Friday a holiday, so all operations halt.

Any mail or parcels that would normally arrive on Good Friday are delivered the following business day, the Monday after Easter. The postal service reminds those sending time-sensitive materials to plan accordingly and expect delays around holidays.

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 most employees receive a regular day’s pay even while not working on the 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.

Read more: Vacation & Paid Time Off Policies in Canada

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

Traditions and Customs. How Canadians Celebrate Good Friday in Canada
Traditions and Customs. How Canadians Celebrate Good Friday in Canada

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. (Source)
  • In a 2023 survey, 61.7% of Canadians planned to celebrate Easter. Good Friday and Easter retain relevance even for some non-religious people. (Source)
  • A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Alaska on Good Friday in 1964. The tremors triggered a tsunami that affected coastal British Columbia communities like Port Alberni and Zeballos. More than 400 homes sustained damage. (Source)
  • 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:

What holiday pay are employees entitled to for working Good Friday in Canada?

Employees required to work on Good Friday receive 1.5 times their regular wages plus public holiday pay, or their employer can substitute another day off with holiday pay.

When did Good Friday become a public holiday in Canada?

Good Friday became a federal public holiday in Canada in 1885 under Prime Minister John A. Macdonald. The law took effect in 1886.

What are Good Friday traditions in Canada?

Common traditions include church services, passion plays, stations of the cross, eating hot cross buns and fish, Easter egg decorating and hunts, parades, and family gatherings.

How is Good Friday celebrated in Quebec?

Quebec does not mandate Good Friday as a paid holiday. However, many employers still observe it, and schools and post offices close. Retail stores must close until 1 pm by law.

When is Good Friday in Canada in 2023?

In 2023, Good Friday falls on April 7th in Canada.

When is Good Friday in Canada in 2024?

In 2024, Good Friday falls on March 29th in Canada.

When is Good Friday in Canada in 2026?

In 2026, Good Friday falls on April 3rd in Canada.

When is Good Friday in Canada in 2025?

In 2025, Good Friday in Canada is celebrated on Friday, April 18

Article Sources
5/5 - (2 votes)
- Advertisement -

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

More article