Boxing Day in Canada
In 2024 Boxing Day is on Thursday, December 26th.
Boxing Day is a day after Christmas Day. It is called "Boxing Day" because - starting in medieval Britain - servants had a day off and would receive a gift box on this day.
I think Boxing Day should be a quiet day spent with family. There are plenty of shopping days in the year to spend your money but your kids grow up too fast.Anonymous visitor comment
There are many other explanations and theories about the origin of this day - which explanation do you favour?
Is Boxing Day a stat holiday?
Our readers often ask and leave comments to find out whether Boxing Day is a statutory holiday. It is a provincial stat holiday in Ontario only - in other provinces and territories it's not a statutory holiday. It is, however, a stat holiday for federally regulated workers and banks across the country.
Here's a note from a reader that we thought would be worth sharing to provide some clarification for BC Government employees: "I got everyone confused in my office by checking this site and telling people that Boxing Day isn't a stat holiday for BC Government employees. It turns out that it is indeed a paid day off for government employees under the BCGEU collective agreement. So it's a special provision for our union. It might be worth noting this in your list of holidays to avoid confusion.
Retail stores will open early on Boxing Day and you can expect large discounts and large crowds. If you don't like large crowds and parking lot battles then try shopping on the 27th - the majority of stores will still have discounts and a good selection of merchandise to choose from.
Share your Boxing Day traditions with us - what do you do on Boxing Day? Do you stay-in? Go shopping? Visit relatives?
the fact that retail workers work their butts off on this day and get paid min wage is crazy, make it a stat holiday so retail employees can get 1.5x pay
The whole world celebrates 2 days for Christmas except in Canada, where only in Ontario Boxing Day is statutory holiday. Since lots of employers already choose to give their employees this day as a day-off, maybe our government can finally make it this a federally regulated statutory holiday for everyone across Canada?
As a BC govt worker I confirm that boxing day is a Stat. Holiday. To the individual asking to change the name all I can say is "why"?We may not use the same tradition but its nice to remember why we do receive the day off We celebrate the Queens Birthday and and we aren't part of the Monarchy. Let's just enjoy our day with our families
I find it hard to believe that boxing day is only a holiday in ON. Are you sure about that?
I am in NB and boxing day is a paid holiday. I work for a call center.