The festive season is just around the corner, and it is such a joyful time of the year, where people come together with loved ones and celebrate all of the good things in life. In Canada, there are so many different Christmas traditions, customs and activities that make the holiday season distinctly Canadian. This time of the year is steeped in culture and history, and there are so many fun and interesting facts about Canadian Christmas that everyone should know about. In this blog post, we’ll take you through some of the interesting fun facts about Christmas in Canada that will get you into the holiday spirit like nothing else.
Tallest Christmas Tree in Canada
The country’s tallest Christmas tree is erected in Montreal’s on Saint Catherine Street every year. The tree is usually around 70 to 75 feet tall and decorated with over 13,000 LED lights, making it a visually stunning spectacle. To add to the Christmas tree’s splendor, a holiday market and a skating rink are set up around the tree, making it the central attraction for the city’s tourists and residents.
Santa Claus Parades
Almost all Canadian cities have some kind of Santa Claus parade, but the biggest and most famous parade in the country takes place in Toronto. The first Toronto Santa Claus parade took place in 1905, making it one of the oldest and longest-running parades in Canada and the world. The parade witnessed thousands of people every year and features dozens of floats, bands, dancers, and characters from classic children’s stories.
National Gingerbread House Competition
Who does not love making gingerbread houses during the holidays? But did you know that each December, hundreds of gingerbread houses are made in the National Gingerbread House Competition in Victoria, British Columbia? The competition is open to all ages and creates a festive atmosphere that not only showcases the participants’ creativity but encourages holiday spirit.
Christmas Food
Food is an essential part of the holiday season and especially when it comes to Canadian Christmas cuisine. Canadians have some mouth-watering delicacies that they prepare during the season, such as tourtiere, a savory pie filled with pork, rabbit, and beef, and Christmas pudding, also known as figgy pudding, a dessert made of raisins, figs, and rum. Canadians also drink egg nog, a delicious creamy drink made of cream, eggs, sugar, and nutmeg.
The Canadian Post’s Letters to Santa Program
One of the cutest holiday programs conducted in Canada is the Letters to Santa program run by the Canadian Post. The program started in 1982, and over the years, the Canadian Post delivered over 26 million letters to Santa Claus. Every year, dedicated volunteers at the Canadian Post Office respond to each letter addressed to Santa, giving hope and spreading Christmas cheer to children all over the world.
