Is Christmas and Boxing Day a bank holiday?

Yes, both Christmas Day (25 December) and Boxing Day (26 December) are official bank holidays in the UK. If these dates fall on a weekend, a "substitute" weekday becomes the bank holiday instead—typically the following Monday and Tuesday. For 2026, Christmas Day is Friday, Dec 25, and Boxing Day is Monday, Dec 28.

Are Christmas Day and Boxing Day a bank holiday?

St Andrew's Day (30 November, or the following Monday if it falls on a weekend). Christmas day if it does not fall on a Sunday (26 December if it does fall on a Sunday). Boxing Day has been proclaimed an additional bank holiday since 1974.

Is 25 and 26 December a bank holiday?

Christmas holidays and closures

The one time of year when London feels quiet is on Christmas Day (25 December) and Boxing Day (26 December). Public transport does not operate on Christmas Day and has a reduced service on Boxing Day and the Christmas bank holidays.

Is Christmas and Boxing Day a public holiday?

Our National Public Holidays are New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Is Boxing Day a bank holiday double pay?

Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day are bank holidays, but working them doesn't automatically entitle you to double or triple pay. Some companies voluntarily offer enhanced rates for Christmas work as a perk to retain staff during difficult-to-fill shifts.

What is Boxing Day? The Day After Christmas in the UK Explained

Do you get double pay on Christmas?

No, Christmas day is not automatically double pay by law; it depends entirely on your employment contract, company policy, or union agreements, as UK/US law doesn't mandate premium holiday rates, though many employers offer it as a perk, especially for difficult-to-fill shifts in retail, hospitality, or healthcare. You must check your contract or staff handbook for specifics on enhanced pay or time-off-in-lieu for working Christmas. 

Do bank payments go through on Boxing Day?

In the case of Bank Holidays, the funds will generally be cleared on Tuesday, unless during the festive season when, on occasion, Christmas and Boxing Day can fall on a weekend. In this instance, the next working day is likely to be Wednesday. In a similar vein, salary payments also can't be processed at the weekend.

What happens if Christmas and Boxing Day fall on a weekend?

If two public holidays fall at the weekend, for example Christmas Day and Boxing Day, then both days will move to the next available working days – Monday and Tuesday in this case.

What is the difference between a bank holiday and a public holiday?

These are associated with cultural traditions, such as Christmas and Easter day, as opposed to bank holidays which were introduced, traditionally, for closing banks. From an employment law perspective, however, there are not any differences in how the law operates between bank holidays and public holidays.

Is it illegal to work Christmas Eve and Boxing Day?

“If an employee is entitled to bank and public holidays then they would not need to work on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or News Years Day however News Year Eve and Christmas Eve are not bank or public holidays so it would depend on what the employer has arranged for these dates.”

Why is 27th December a bank holiday?

Both Christmas Day and Boxing Day are bank holidays, but as they fall on a weekend in 2027, it means substitute days will be put in place. The Government has now confirmed the dates of those substitute bank holidays as December 27 for Christmas Day and December 28 for Boxing Day.

Is December 26 considered a holiday?

President Donald Trump's recent executive order has turned the post-Christmas slump into an official extension of the holiday season, designating Friday, Dec. 26, as a federal holiday.

Is 25 and 26 December a public holiday?

UK bank holidays between 2025 and 2026

There are two remaining bank holiday dates in 2025: 25 December (Thursday): Christmas Day. 26 December (Friday): Boxing Day.

Is 26 December a bank holiday in the UK?

Summer bank holiday UK: The first Monday (Scotland) or last Monday in August (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) St Andrew's Day: Only in Scotland on 30 November. Christmas Day: Always 25 December unless it's a weekend, then it's the Monday after. Boxing Day: Always 26 December.

Why do Brits call it a bank holiday?

In the UK, we've had official bank holidays since 1871, when they were formally recognised by an Act of Parliament. On these days, banks were allowed to close, which is where the name comes from.

What if Christmas Day falls on my day off?

Let's break down the details: No automatic right to an extra day: There's no law requiring employers to “top up” holiday if a bank holiday falls on a non-working day-unless this is promised in the employee's contract. Check your contract: Many contracts will outline whether: Bank holidays are included in annual leave.

Why is it called Boxing Day?

Boxing Day, celebrated on December 26th, gets its name from the tradition of giving "Christmas boxes," which were gifts or money given to servants and tradespeople in Victorian Britain as a reward for their year of service, as they worked on Christmas Day. It also relates to church alms boxes, where donations for the poor were collected during Advent and distributed on the day after Christmas (St. Stephen's Day), tying into themes of charity and giving. 

Are Christmas Day and Boxing Day classed as bank holidays?

There are seven bank holidays common to all jurisdictions: New Year's Day, Good Friday, the early May bank holiday (May Day), the Spring bank holiday, the Summer bank holiday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.

Is tomorrow a bank holiday if England wins the Euros?

But there will be no bank holiday to mark the occasion, the BBC understands. Monday's Downing Street reception will be hosted by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and sports minister Stephanie Peacock.

Why do people call the day after Christmas Boxing Day?

Explanations for the origin of the name have varied, with some believing that it derived from the opening of alms boxes that had been placed in churches for the collection of donations to aid the poor. Others, however, have held that it came from the boxes of gifts given to employees on the day after Christmas.

Is Boxing Day a bank holiday everywhere?

However, Boxing Day is no longer a public holiday. In South Africa, 26 December is the Day of Goodwill, a public holiday. In Trinidad and Tobago, Boxing Day is a public holiday. In the UK outside Scotland, 26 December (unless it is a Sunday) has been a bank holiday since 1871.

Do you get paid early if it's a bank holiday?

Yes, if your payday falls on a bank holiday, you will usually get paid early, typically on the last working day before the holiday, because employers process payroll ahead of time so funds clear before the banks close for the holiday. However, it depends on your employer, as some might delay payment until the next business day if their payroll isn't run early, but this is less common. 

Do direct deposits go through on Boxing Day?

Paying with direct deposit

So if you pay employees with direct deposit, you might wonder, Will direct deposit go through on a holiday? In short, the answer is no. The ACH only processes direct deposit transfers Monday – Friday. This excludes weekends and holidays.