Canadian Christmas Traditions
Festive Recipes and Stories from Coast to Coast
AUTHOR: DeeAnn Mandryk and Jeff O'Neill
FORMAT: 5.5 x 8.5 pb
ISBN-10: 1554390982
ISBN-13: 9781554390984
Explore the fascinating customs from all over the world that combine to create the uniquely Canadian celebration of Christmas. Including delicious holiday recipes, Canadian Christmas Traditions is sure to delight anyone who loves the Christmas season.
Prologue
Holidays and Holy Days are fascinating. All kinds of exciting stories can be found in their history. The month of December holds one of the most celebrated and cherished holidays in the world, Christmas. Many people, however, celebrate this holiday without really knowing its true heritage or the origins of its traditions, customs, and rituals. Like all holidays, Christmas was an invented, or rather re-invented, tradition from the beginning and one that continues to change and evolve over time in accordance with cultural and political shifts.
Canadian Christmas celebrations represent a rich tapestry of multi-cultural customs and traditions imported by European explorers, traders, pioneers, and settlers. Arriving on Canada¹s eastern shores, they made their way west, building homes and communities, creating memories and planting roots that would nurture and sustain generations to come. Part of the legacy these pioneers left behind for future generations is the customs, the recipes, the songs, and the stories that make up this season called Christmas. The Christmas tree, Advent wreath, and gingerbread houses are a few of the traditions that the German pioneers brought; carolling and mummering came with the British, Irish and Slavic settlers; the Scottish brought their delectable shortbread; the custom of setting up a nativity crèche was introduced by the French settlers; Santa Claus came from Canada¹s southern neighbours where he had evolved from Dutch, German, and Scandinavian folklore...and on it goes.
Regardless of the country or nationality of origin, virtually every tradition associated with the Christmas season has its roots in long-ago times and long before the birth of Christ. Knowing how and why these ancient traditions, customs, rituals, and symbols came to be associated with Christmas sheds a lot of light on the true spirit of the holidays.
About the Authors
Born and raised in Calgary, DeeAnn Mandryk graduated from the University of Calgary with a degree in English Literature and Political Science. DeeAnn has carved an
eclectic career path through the arts, advertising, investment, and tourism industries. Her work over the past decade as the Buyer and Merchandising Manager for Calgary's Heritage Park Historical Village has contributed to her interest in Canadian history and in particular to the origins and evolution of cultural traditions. DeeAnn lives wherever the German Air Force sends her husband, which currently is Geneva, Switzerland.
Born and raised in London, Ontario, Chef Jeff O'Neill ignited his love of Canada's cuisine in the world famous Rocky Mountain Resorts. Currently the Executive Chef at
the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis, Jeff has had the opportunity to create and serve distinctly Canadian dishes featuring regional cuisine to millions of visitors, including kings and queens, political leaders, and the world's corporate elite.
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