Its status as an official holiday, however, is not the same as Christmas Day. Dec. 26 can become a day off for federal employees when the president issues a temporary order, like President Donald Trump did in 2025 when he declared Christmas Eve and Dec. 26 federal holidays.
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.
In cases where the more “specific” definition of business day applies, such as for the right of rescission, the observed holiday (in this example, Monday, December 26) is counted a business day, even though federal offices will be closed on that day. The same is true for Monday January 2.
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.
Yes, Boxing Day (December 26th) is a national bank holiday in the UK, offering a public day off, though workers in retail or hospitality might still need to work, with traditions including sales, sports, and family time, and the official holiday moves to the next weekday if December 26th falls on a weekend.
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.
It is a “general holiday” for employees in federally regulated workplaces under federal labour standards, which is why banks, telecom, airlines, and other federally regulated sectors often treat it like a statutory day off. Ontario also lists Boxing Day as a public holiday under its employment standards rules.
Historically rooted in England during the Middle Ages, Boxing Day was originally a time when wealthy families would give boxes filled with gifts to their servants—a gesture acknowledging their hard work throughout the year.
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. Easter Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but not in Scotland.
Boxing Day, December 26th, gets its name from Victorian Britain's tradition of wealthy employers giving servants "Christmas boxes" of gifts, money, or leftover food as thanks for their year-round service, as servants worked Christmas Day and got the 26th off to visit their own families. Another theory links it to church alms boxes, which collected donations during Advent and were opened on December 26th (St. Stephen's Day) to distribute to the poor.
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.
Only federal agencies will be closed on those days, but some employees may still have to report to work at the discretion of agency leaders, according to Trump's order. Private businesses can decide to give their employees time off, but they are not obligated to by law.
Filipino Day of Goodwill - December 26 of every year is hereby declared as a national special non-working holiday, to be called "Day of Goodwil/", or the Philippines' version of "Boxing Day", which is a public holiday being celebrated by other countries around the world.
What days are classed as working days over Christmas?
Outside of the Bank Holidays, Monday 29th December through to Wednesday 31st December are considered normal working days. Your team will need to book these 3 days out of their usual holiday entitlement if they want to take the entire Christmas break off work.
“All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, and Friday, December 26, 2025, the day before and the day following Christmas Day, respectively,” the order says.
Yes, many grocery stores are open on Boxing Day (December 26th), but typically with reduced hours, while some, like Aldi and Waitrose, often remain closed, so it's essential to check your local store's times online before visiting. Major chains like Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, and Sainsbury's usually open mid-morning (around 9 am) and close early evening (6 pm-8 pm), with convenience stores often trading longer hours.
