Christmas is Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. For millions of Christians throughout the world it is the happiest and the busiest time of the year. No one knows the exact date of Christ's birth but most Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25. The word Christmas comes from Christes masse, an early English phrase that means Mass of Christ.
People of different countries celebrate Christmas in various ways. People in the United States and Canada decorate their homes with Christmas trees, wreaths and ornaments. City streets are filled with colored lights; the sound of bells and Christmas carols can be heard everywhere.
Children write letters to Santa Claus and tell him what presents they would like to get. Many department stores hire people to wear a Santa Claus costume and listen to children's requests. People send Christmas cards to relatives and friends. Many companies give presents to their employees.
A Christmas tree is one of the main symbols of Christmas in most homes. Relatives and friends may join in trimming the tree with lights, tinsel, and colorful ornaments. Presents are placed under the tree. On Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, families open their presents.
Many children believe that Santa Claus arrives on Christmas Eve in a sleigh pulled by a reindeer and brings presents. Some children hang up stockings so Santa Claus can fill them with candy, fruit and other small gifts.
In many parts of the United States and Canada groups of people walk from house to house and sing Christmas carols. Some people give singers money or small gifts or invite them for a warm drink.
Many people attend church services on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. They listen to readings from the Bible and singing Christmas carols.
A traditional Christmas dinner consists of stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and a variety of other dishes. Some families have ham or roast goose instead of turkey. Pumpkin pie, plum pudding, and fruitcake are favorite desserts.
Translation:
Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. For millions of Christians around the world, this is the happiest and most troublesome time of the year. No one knows the exact date of Christ's birth, but most Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25th. The word "Christmas" comes from "Christes masse", an Old English expression that means "Mass of Christ".
People in different countries celebrate Christmas in different ways. People in the United States and Canada decorate their homes with Christmas trees, wreaths, and various decorations. The city streets are full of colorful lights, bells and Christmas carols can be heard everywhere.
Children write letters to Santa Claus and tell him what gifts they would like to receive. Many department stores hire people to wear Santa Claus costumes and listen to children's requests. People send Christmas cards to relatives and friends. Many companies give gifts to their employees.
The Christmas tree is one of the main symbols of Christmas in most homes. Relatives and friends can gather to decorate the Christmas tree with lights, tinsel, and colorful decorations. Gifts are placed under the tree. On Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, families open gifts.
Many children believe that Santa Claus arrives on Christmas Eve in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. Some children hang out stockings for Santa Claus to fill with candy, fruit, and other small gifts.
In many areas of the United States and Canada, groups of people go from house to house singing Christmas carols. Some give the singers money or small gifts, or invite them inside for hot drinks.
Many people attend church services on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. They listen to passages from the Bible and sing Christmas carols.
A traditional Christmas dinner consists of stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and a variety of other items. Some families eat ham or roast goose instead of turkey. Favorite desserts are pumpkin pie, plum pudding and fruit cake.
Winter holidays are the most beloved and anticipated by both children and adults in all corners of the world. Decorated Christmas trees, cards with touching congratulations, cozy home evenings and gifts - in distant Canada they love this no less than in or! In a country of immigrants, traditions combine customs different regions. So, what to do and where to go if you are lucky enough to be on Christmas in Canada?
Features of the celebration Christmas in Canada directly depend on the province. If the French part of the country recreates scenes of the birth of Christ and sits down at the table at night, then the British part waits for Santa Claus and opens gifts at morning hours. Russian emigrants also reverently honor Christmas traditions, and many celebrate it twice – on December 25 and January 7. It is interesting that even people of other religions do not remain indifferent to the celebration.
Santa's residence
If you decide to mark Christmas in Canada, stock up on warm clothes for future adventures. IN individual regions Temperatures can drop to -30 degrees. But here Santa Claus is quite comfortable, whom Canadians consider almost their relative. They argue this by saying that a red sheepskin coat and a white beard are a color combination reminiscent of the Canadian flag. It's hard to argue what to say. But they can’t decide on his place of registration: either he is given a residence in Montreal, or he is sent north to the polar bears. Although in Canada an old man will feel good everywhere: the snow is sparkling, carefully compacted, crunchy, not like our slush.
Christmas tree day
Canadians are preparing for Christmas, as expected, at the end of November. Believers celebrate Advent - the period of waiting for the holiday, which takes about 4 weeks. At this time, in addition to spiritual renewal, cities begin to transform. Garlands are hung everywhere so that their light disperses the northern twilight, and Christmas trees are brought. Canadians have a particularly reverent attitude towards spruce: the first tree was decorated by soldiers defending Quebec from a possible attack by the Americans. On the first Saturday of December in Canada, National Christmas Tree Day is celebrated. Decoctions from pine needles saved the colonists from scurvy and death from hypothermia in the cold season; the bark and wood were used for construction. In a word, if the maple were not the official symbol of Canada, it would certainly become a Christmas tree. According to tradition, the whole family goes after the forest beauty - and it doesn’t matter whether they find it at the nearest market around the corner or go to a farm in the outskirts of Toronto. The process itself is important. In Ontario, you can buy several varieties of Christmas trees at fairs: Balsam, Fraser, Douglas, Canaan or Concolor. They differ in smell, length and density of needles. Many tourists are unable to resist purchasing at least a twig, which is placed in a vase in a hotel room or rented apartment during the trip. And there is no need to feel sorry for cut down trees - they are grown for many years, during which they perform their function of improving the health of the air. To prevent squirrels and birds from being left without a home, the felled spruce is immediately replaced with a new one. After the holidays, Christmas trees are not taken to the trash heap, but rather sent for recycling. In a word, continuous odes to Canadian ecology - living trees in this case are much more beneficial to the environment than plastic monsters from China.
Canadians decorate spruce trees in the American style: all the most beautiful and shiny things will hang on the branches for a month. Angels, balls of all colors and shapes, bows, little animals... Striped candy canes are very popular, this is one of the symbols of Christ: if you turn this candy over, you get the letter J, the beginning of the name Jesus.
It is difficult to predict which city in Canada will have the most luxurious spruce at Christmas: among the skyscrapers of Toronto, the purely Parisian boulevards of Montreal, or in the capital Ottawa. We can only advise tourists to try to visit all the central squares. More trees - more impressions!
Fairs and festivals
Another tradition that came from Europe is Christmas markets. Fairs are always fun - there are rides, national Canadian souvenirs are sold - toy moose, decorations in the form of maple leaves, hockey paraphernalia and the famous maple syrup. Try the fun lollipop “Lollipops” - sticky syrup is dripped directly onto the snow and a stick is inserted into it. The mass hardens and the candy is ready! Insta Snow – artificial snow – is extremely popular among tourists.
In Vancouver, markets are held in the best traditions - with nutcrackers, mulled wine and sausages. A very interesting festival is Vancouver’s CarolShipsParade of Lights, during which hundreds of thousands of lanterns float along FalseCreek, DeepCove and PortMoody. Toronto's Cavalcade of Lights is more modern and annually hosts one of the largest Santa Claus parades in the world. In Ottawa, in addition to classic entertainment, the Prime Minister personally turns on the holiday lights on the Parliament building, after which everyone present is treated to free hot chocolate. At the Zoolights festival in Calgary, you can chat with Santa Claus - and the conversation will be recorded so that you can download it and save it for a long time. Well, Edmonton is simply turning into Candy Cane Lane - that’s what the lavishly decorated streets are called in the West.
Another one interesting tradition At Christmas in Canada there is a New Year's train. A small train, decorated with holiday attributes, makes its way through cities and provinces, accompanied by children's laughter and the joy of adults. Routes can be easily identified by huge snowmen and figures of fairy-tale heroes. You can ride the express for 12 USD, and the proceeds go to charity. Catch the New Year's spirit at Stanley Park in Toronto starting November 28th.
All fairs are usually open from November 22 daily from 11:00 to 21:00. They close on December 24 at 18:00 - sellers also want to celebrate Christmas.
How Canadians celebrate Christmas
As throughout the Western world, Christmas in Canada- clean family celebration. A week before the celebration in Newfoundland and Labrador, it is customary to bring... fish to church! Traditionally, the catch is sold so that the proceeds go to the needs of the parish. Even non-religious people do this. Many Canadians attend the Christmas service, during which children are taken to the center of the church and given candles placed in turnips. According to legend, this is done so that the coming year will be fruitful.
Holiday menus vary by region in Canada. In the French part they prepare pork pie and turkey. In the British part they are treated to baked goose, boiled pork and pudding. The most vibrant and varied cuisine in Quebec: they serve layered rabbit pie, potatoes with blueberry sauce, meat casserole with herbs, beans and ham. Wash down the dishes with the Egg-Nog drink based on rum, egg yolk, milk and spices. Kids are served a non-alcoholic option while they bake their own cookie people and eagerly await Santa. In Canada, the charitable tradition “Operation Santa Claus” is very popular, which consists of the following: anyone can take a letter written by a child at the post office and send him the desired gift.
Canadians devote the next day entirely to family: watching New Year's films, unpacking gifts and ice skating. Join the world's most athletic nation at the Silver Star or Whistler resorts on the Pacific Coast. Celebrate Christmas in Canada with the breeze on the slopes - what could be better? Just a trip to Niagara Falls: it is illuminated in all the colors of the rainbow. And on December 26th it’s worth returning to the city, because it’s Boxing Day, the day the sales start. New Year's fireworks will soon go off, and you will have to return to everyday work... until February. In the last month of winter, regular fairs for tourists, interesting shows and mass skating along the Rideau Canal to the Canadian anthem will start.
The main adventures in Canada are just beginning!
Christmas is a favorite time of the year for many Christian people. It is celebrated by many cultures and religions. This is the holiday when families come together and celebrate the birth of Jesus, love, peace and kindness. Catholic Christmas is celebrated in Europe, Australia and America on the 25th of December. However all preparations for this day start long before the date.
Christmas is rich in traditions which make this holiday very special for everyone. One of the most favorite traditions among children is decorating their houses, gardens and Christmas trees with colorful garlands, mistletoe wreaths, ornaments, gingerbread men, dazzling stars and artificial snow. Evergreen trees are symbols of eternal life, and mistletoe traditionally symbolizes love. The next tradition is writing a letter to Santa Claus and waiting for him and his reindeer with a bag full of presents in a sleigh. Children hang up stockings near their beds or by the fire-place hoping that Santa Claus will come at night and fill them with sweets, fruits and nuts.
On Christmas Eve people send holiday cards and visit their friends in order to exchange presents and good wishes. In the center of London, in Trafalgar Square British people gather around the huge Christmas tree. Many of them attend church services on Christmas Eve. Singing Christmas carols to commemorate Christ’s birth is also one of the oldest Catholic traditions. In America the biggest Christmas tree is usually lit up in New York, at Rockefeller Center.
A big festive dinner is the most delicious meal of a year. People enjoy traditional plum puddings, stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pies.
The warmth and joy of Christmas makes people much better. A lot of people help the poor, they organize festive dinners for the homeless.
Translation
Christmas is the favorite time of year for many Christians. It is celebrated by many cultures and religions. It is a holiday when families come together to celebrate the birth of Christ, love, peace and kindness. Catholic Christmas celebrated in Europe, Australia and America on December 25th. However, all preparations for this day begin long before this date.
Christmas is rich in traditions that make this holiday special for everyone. One of the most beloved traditions among children is decorating homes, gardens and Christmas trees with colorful garlands, mistletoe wreaths, Christmas tree decorations, gingerbread men, sparkling stars and fake snow. Evergreen trees are symbols of eternal life, and mistletoe traditionally symbolizes love. Another tradition was writing letters to Santa Claus and waiting for his arrival on reindeer with a large bag of gifts in a sleigh. Children hang long socks near the bed or by the fireplace in the hope that at night Santa Claus will fill them with sweets, fruits and nuts.
On Christmas Eve, people send greeting cards and visit their friends to exchange gifts and good wishes. In the center of London, on Trafalgar Square Britons gather around a huge Christmas tree. Many of them visit at Christmas cathedral services. Singing Christmas carols in honor of the birth of Christ is also one of the oldest Catholic traditions. In America, the tallest Christmas tree is usually lit in New York City, at the Rockefeller Center.
A big holiday dinner is the most delicious treat of the whole year. People enjoy traditional plum puddings, stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pies.
The warmth and joy of Christmas makes people much better people. Many people help the poor and organize holiday dinners for the homeless.
Here you can find Canadian holidays. State, national, official and unofficial holidays in Canada.
Canada is a country of borders and boundaries. As the inscription on the country's coat of arms says, it stretches “from sea to sea” (in Latin “A Mari Usque Ad Mare”). In all Canadian provinces, with the exception of Quebec, the official language is English. The country itself is in many ways similar to other English-speaking countries in tradition, and is governed by the Queen of England, Elizabeth II.
All Canadian holidays can be divided into two groups: those that coincide with most generally recognized holidays in the world, and those that are celebrated only in Canada. Whatever the holiday, Canadians are very fond of any events and activities in their country, especially if it is also a day off.
Celebrated very joyfully and magnificently Christmas And New Year(New Year)(December 25 and January 1) in Canada, not skimping on decorations and gifts. Also invariably celebrated Valentine's Day(The 14th of February), April Fool's Day(April 1), Easter(date changes), Halloween(October 31) and some other international celebrations. However special interest represent the original Canadian holidays, which radically distinguish the country from other countries.
One of the most important holidays in the country is Canada Day, which is celebrated annually on July 1. It was on this day that Canada became an independent state, or in other words, a Dominion. The celebration of this event is accompanied by parades, fireworks, carnivals, concerts, and takes place in all cities and towns of the country. Events in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, are particularly pompous. On this day, the city is decorated with Canadian flags, the symbolic colors are red and white, ceremonies for awarding Canadian citizenship to new residents of the country are held, and the most important event is the gathering of residents and guests of the city on Parliament Hill. A traditional Canada Day treat is pancakes with maple syrup. Officially, July 1 is considered a day off, and if this date falls on a Sunday, the day off is moved to July 2.
One more an unusual holiday in Canada is Queen Victoria's Birthday. This holiday is celebrated on May 25th every year and is followed by a long weekend. The tradition appeared in Canada in 1952 and was borrowed from the British, who annually celebrate Monarch Day. Victoria Day is quite festive, accompanied by concerts and fireworks.
Deserves special attention National Aboriginal Day. This National holiday, taking place annually on June 21. The date of the holiday was not chosen by chance, since it was on this day that the indigenous population North America celebrates the summer solstice. This holiday has been celebrated since 1996 and is intended to familiarize everyone with cultural life Aboriginal people of Canada, i.e. Indian tribes and northern peoples. On this day, large-scale events take place across the country, including free concerts, summer festivals, charity treats and much more. There are also cheerful chants and dances everywhere. The main rite of the festival is extinguishing the sacred fire. Traditional dishes of this holiday are goose stew and fried bread. In some parts of Canada, this day is a legal holiday.
The Canadian province of Quebec, from June 23 to 24 each year, celebrates Saint John the Baptist Day, also known as French Canadian Culture Day. This is an official holiday recognized as a holiday in the province of Quebec. The tradition of celebrating John the Baptist Day came to Canada with the French colonists. Despite the fact that in modern times this holiday has a pronounced political character, residents of Quebec and Montreal celebrate it quite cheerfully with concerts, fireworks and folk festivities.
Canadians highly honor their parents and therefore celebrate every 2nd Sunday in May. Mother's Day and every June 19 - Father's Day. Despite the fact that these holidays do not coincide in date with March 8 or February 23, the events and celebrations associated with them are very similar. Children also give gifts to their mothers on Mother's Day, thanking them for everything and freeing them from household chores. Father's Day is the same. These holidays originally appeared in the USA, and then began to be held in Canada.
One of the must-do events in Canada is Remembrance Day, celebrated on November 11th. This holiday is associated with the end of the First World War and aims to honor the memory of fallen heroes. At exactly 11:00 on November 11, Canada annually holds a Minute of Silence, followed by memorial ceremonies with the participation of veterans and ordinary citizens. Flowers and wreaths are laid at the monuments to the dead. The symbol of this day is a red poppy, and in order to honor the memory of the heroes who fell in Flanders, everyone pins it to their chest.
Well known autumn holiday in Canada is Thanksgiving Day, which is celebrated every 2nd Monday of October. This holiday has rich history and is directly related to the settlement of America. Thanksgiving Day has been celebrated for a long time in the United States and a little later in Canada in honor of a rich harvest and successful agricultural work. On this day, it is customary for the whole family to gather around a large table and eat traditional home-cooked dishes: roast turkey with cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. For many families, this is a good reason to get together and rejoice in family well-being. Officially, this holiday is a day off, the so-called “long weekend”, which also makes Canadians happy. The external attributes of the holiday are garlands of flowers on the doors and windows of houses, straw effigies or patchwork dolls, and many other cute things that bring comfort and well-being.
Another reason to vacation in Canada is called Labor Day, officially recognized as a day off. The holiday takes place on the 1st Monday of September in honor of all workers who have earned their legal rest.
There is another holiday in Canada that deserves attention, despite the fact that it is not natively Canadian. This holiday is called St. Patrick's Day. It originated far away in Celtic Ireland. Today, many countries in the world gladly honor the memory of this saint and celebrate his holiday every year on March 17th. In Canada, St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated since 1894. This holiday is dedicated mainly to travelers and wanderers, as St. Patrick loved adventure and lived interesting life. IN last years In life he was an Irish priest and Christian missionary. In honor of him, on March 17, people sing funny songs, dance Irish dances to the sounds of bagpipes, and, of course, dress in all green, traditional color this holiday.
To them friends and family.
Many Canadians open their gifts on Christmas Eve. Some only open their stocking on Christmas Eve. Others choose one gift to open, then save the rest until Christmas Day.
Canadians like to decorate their houses with Christmas Trees, lights and other decorations. There's often Christmas stockings hung by the fireplace, ready for Santa!
The main Christmas meal is often roast turkey with vegetables and "all the trimmings" like mashed potatoes and vegetables. Traditional favorite Christmas desserts include Christmas/plum puddings and mincemeat tarts. Christmas crackers are popular with many people in Canada as well. A rich fruit Christmas Cake is also normally eaten around Christmas time!
However, people from different backgrounds and cultures have their own favorite foods at Christmas.
Going skiing, skating and tobogganing are also popular if there's snow at Christmas!
In Southwestern Nova Scotia, many families eat lobster, a shellfish caught off the shores of Nova Scotia in the North Atlantic Ocean, on Christmas Eve.
At Christmas Canadians eat sweets called Barley Candy and Chicken Bones! They are really sweets made by local candy companies. Barley Candy is usually on a stick and is shaped like Santa, reindeer, snowmen, a tree and other symbols of Christmas. Chicken Bones are pink candy that tastes like cinnamon. You melt them in your mouth and once melted, they reveal a creamy milk chocolate center.
There is a large Ukrainian community in Canada (the third largest in the world following Ukraine and Russia). Canadian Ukrainian families will have the traditional 12 meal dishes for Christmas.