What’s happening in Canada in Winter 2009?
Christmas traditions in Canada
by Kathryn Harley Haynes 2 November 2009Mummering-the word dates back to the Middle Ages, and it’s been an annual Christmas tradition in Newfoundland and Labrador outports for at least a couple of hundred years. In the villages of Bonavista and Conception Bay, the mummers-bands of costumed, masked frolickers-go from house to house during the holiday season joking, singing, dancing and cajoling refreshments from their hosts, who are challenged to guess their surprise visitors’ identities. A similar tradition in such German-settled areas of Nova Scotia as Lunenburg is known as “belsnickeling.”
(Read more on mummers and belsnickles here and here.)
www.newfoundlandandlabrador.com
http://novascotia.com/en/home/default.aspx
Multicultural Canada is, of course, home to many, many more seasonal events. Just three to check out are:
“First Light,” Sainte-Marie among the Hurons: In Midland, ON, at the 17th-century headquarters of the French Jesuit missionaries, you can enter the spirit of Christmases past with food, drink, historic re-enactments, demos and hands-on activities, all magically lit by 2,000 candles. This year’s 10th anniversary event runs Nov. 26, 27 and 28.
www.ontariotravel.net
Christmas in the Village: The scores of artists and artisans who live in Gagetown, NB, a scenic village on the banks of the Saint John River, open their studios, shops and houses-some dating back to 1783-Nov. 28 and 29 for a holiday extravaganza that includes caroling, hot cider, festive food, crafts and a treasure hunt. (Gagetown village office: 506-488-3567)
www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca
Silver Sage Agricultural Society New Year’s Eve Bull Riding and Celebration: In the heart of Canada’s “Badlands”-Brooks, AB-you’ll have a chance to see out the old year and welcome in the new at this “beans and jeans” event at the Silver Sage Community Corral.
www1.travelalberta.com/en-ab/