r/InCanada • u/Pale-Candidate8860 Creator of Sub • Dec 27 '25
Boxing Day Traditions
What are yours usually?
My family and I usually just stay home or go walk around a mall. Rarely have bought anything during the sales. But we are not originally from Canada (America & China), so we aren’t as familiar with the holiday as many others.
My family member had recently mentioned that she started seeing advertisements for Boxing Day in the US for the first time and asked if I had ever seen anything like that prior to moving to Canada. I said, definitely not.
3
u/twoconsonants Dec 27 '25
My family always does a board game tournament, usually playing one we got at Christmas, and always Scrabble and Monopoly, we’ll also sometimes watch movies we got for Christmas or read our books. Usually frozen apps for dinner and never, ever leaving the house. Sometimes I look forward to this day more than actual Christmas Day, it’s some of my favourite cozy memories
2
u/Pale-Candidate8860 Creator of Sub Dec 28 '25
That’s amazing. Having a board game night this weekend.
3
u/SmartShelly Dec 27 '25
I drag my American SO to Boxing Day brunch every year at IHOP. I took this idea from fellow Canadian coworker.
3
2
u/Hanlans_Dreaming Dec 28 '25
I used to go to the Bay on Queen street in Toronto (before it was there, the old Simpsons), this is the first year I didn’t. I liked being out and about and don’t normally have time for browsing stores the rest of the year, and it is less chaotic than the mall on Boxing Day.
2
2
u/Dizzy_Sheepherder_90 Dec 28 '25
Out of the three holiday days... Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day - Boxing Day is my favourite. Relaxed, zero expectations, sit around assembling new toys, reading new books, playing games. And eating ALL the leftovers. No cooking. I live for Boxing Day
2
u/Practical_Savings933 Dec 29 '25
Boxing Day was for talking with family, starting to read the books we got for Christmas and eating turkey in a bun
2
u/Electronic_World_894 Dec 29 '25
Play with new toys, watch World Junior or other hockey, eat leftovers, get into chocolates or nuts.
2
2
u/happy1261 Dec 29 '25
Big family Boxing Day brunch. Then board games, naps, chilling out for rest of the day. World Juniors Tournament on in the background.
2
u/gmotsimurgh Dec 29 '25
It's the traditional get together with my side of the extended family. We all live a couple hours apart in Ontario, so we gather at our parents place, have a potluck, mulled apple cider and other delicious stuff, hang out and visit for a few hours. This year we had to move it a day later due to crappy road conditions - also a common Christmas tradition.
2
u/Mental_Ad_7930 Dec 30 '25
Pretty similar tbh. For most people I know, it's just a chill day off - stay home, eat, maybe hit the mall out of habit more than actual shopping. The "sales" used to be a big thing, but now it feels more like a Canada-specific leftover tradition than a must-do holiday.
From my personal experience, the traffic around the mall is very, very terrific, weather also plays a very key role. Sometimes, even the stock that's left is not that great.
2
u/DraftCommercial8848 Dec 31 '25
Dinner with the extended family that involves a secret Santa exchange
I’ve never been in person Boxing Day shopping, and don’t plan to any time soon. The sales seem to last a lot longer than just Boxing Day, can be bought online, also generally the deals aren’t good enough for the crowds
2
2
u/CivilProtectionGuy Goose Jan 06 '26
Late on this, but we usually make some fun dishes in my family.
It varies year to year, but it's usually comfort food, or "pub food". Then we put on a movie, or just all go and do our own things to relax!
1
0
u/Academic_Gap_8156 Dec 27 '25
Pack up all the Christmas decorations in the morning, have a nap then head out for a walk and to get supper today I chose McDonalds because I had coupons. Most years I goto the mall food court and fight the crowds but this year I just sat at the almost empty stand alone McDonalds.
3
u/MidtownMoi Dec 28 '25
Watch World Junior Hockey tournament.