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Good Friday in Canada: Traditions and Customs
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 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:
| Year | Date of Good Friday |
| 2025 | Friday, April 18 |
| 2026 | Friday, April 3 |
| 2027 | Friday, March 26 |
| 2028 | Friday, April 14 |
| 2029 | Friday, March 30 |
| 2030 | Friday, April 19 |
| 2031 | Friday, April 11 |
| 2032 | Friday, March 26 |
| 2033 | Friday, April 15 |
| 2034 | Friday, 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?
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
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.
Conclusion
Good Friday represents a definitive part of Canada’s spiritual and cultural fabric, even as society diversifies and becomes more secular. Its Christian roots run deep as part of the nation’s longstanding religious identity. Yet the holiday equally symbolizes rest, renewal, and a collective breath before spring.
However one perceives Good Friday, its status remains cemented nationwide both as a statutory public holiday and a revered occasion on the calendar. For stores to close, postal service to cease, and classrooms to empty signals an enduring deference. The day retains its solemnity and sombreness amidst burgeoning secularism.
While Canadians increasingly live removed from traditional religious practice, Good Friday endures nearly universally across the provinces. Its markers, from hot cross buns to Easter eggs, reaffirm something uniquely Canadian in identity. And its arrival each year with a long weekend reminds us of winter’s end and nature’s rebirth.
FAQs related to Good Friday in Canada
When is Good Friday in Canada?
Good Friday falls on a different date each year, always on the Friday before Easter Sunday. The date is determined by the lunar calendar that sets Easter. Upcoming dates are April 18, 2025 and April 3, 2026.
Is Good Friday a statutory holiday in Canada?
Yes, Good Friday is a statutory holiday across most of Canada, with the exception of Quebec where it is partially observed. All provinces and territories recognize it as a public holiday.
What do Canadians do on Good Friday?
Typical activities include attending church services, fasting or not eating meat, eating hot cross buns, spending time with family, and taking advantage of the long weekend. For non-religious Canadians, it marks the start of spring break.
Are stores open on Good Friday in Canada?
Many major retail stores are closed on Good Friday, or open shorter hours. Grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and malls may remain open depending on provincial regulations. Most restaurants also close.
Does Canada Post deliver mail on Good Friday?
No, Canada Post suspends delivery services nationwide on Good Friday. Post offices are closed for the public holiday. Mail delivery resumes the following business day.
Is Good Friday a paid day off work in Canada?
Yes, most employees receive statutory pay for Good Friday across Canada. To qualify, federally regulated workers need 30 days of employment and 15 days with pay in the last 30 days. Provincial rules vary slightly.
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.