{"id":687,"date":"2021-12-07T15:45:31","date_gmt":"2021-12-07T15:45:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/international-programmes\/?p=687"},"modified":"2024-10-29T10:38:45","modified_gmt":"2024-10-29T10:38:45","slug":"how-christmas-is-celebrated-in-toronto-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/global-learning\/2021\/12\/07\/how-christmas-is-celebrated-in-toronto-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"How Christmas is Celebrated in Toronto, Canada"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christmas is Celebrated in Toronto, Ontario, Canada much like it is celebrated in the United Kingdom and United States. Preparations for Christmas start as early as after Halloween. Stores are decorated with green and red ornaments and Christmas trees, whilst shelves are stocked with holiday themed goods and Christmas melodies take over the radio. Many Canadians start their Christmas shopping in November, during Black Friday to take advantage of the stellar bargains. Outdoors, the streets of Toronto light up in awe-inspiring lights and twinkling trees while houses are decked in festive decor and Christmas inflatables. Canadians are typically blessed with blankets of glistening white snow around the season. Christmas is the biggest holiday celebration in Canada, and Toronto, like other major cities, turns into a winter wonderland\u00a0in light of\u00a0the holiday spirit.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>
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As Canada is known for its multiculturalism, Christmas traditions vary amongst different ethnic populations such as the English, Scottish, Irish and German communities. Canadians take part in the annual holiday tradition of buying Christmas trees and lighting them up in their homes, whether it be artificial or authentic. Unlike in Russia however, it is illegal in Canada to chop up a tree from a forest and take it home! Presents are left under the tree for children to open in the morning under the assumption they were gifted from Santa Claus himself!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Apart from decorating Christmas trees, Canadians enjoy watching various Christmas specials on television,\u00a0baking\u00a0and exchanging cookies, decorating gingerbread houses, sending Christmas cards, going\u00a0caroling, hanging mistletoe and goodie-filled stockings, and much more. Christian families may also go to church to gather for midnight mass on Christmas Eve in\u00a0honour\u00a0of the birth of Jesus Christ.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On Christmas day, families come together to have a feast and exchange presents. A traditional Canadian Christmas dinner has its origins in Britain, the main menu consisting of stuffed Turkey or other poultry, mashed potatoes and gravy, eggnog, mincemeat tarts, fruit cake, cranberry sauce, pudding, and an assortment of harvest vegetables and other side dishes and pastries. Some distinctly Canadian Christmas dishes include\u00a0Nanaimo\u00a0bars, butter tarts, and French-Canadian\u00a0Tourti\u00e8.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Aside from\u00a0mouthwatering\u00a0feasts, wholesome family get-togethers and gift exchanges, there are countless other ways Canadians can immerse themselves into the holiday festivities leading up to the time of Christmas and well beyond.\u00a0 Whether\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a walk into the Eaton Centre, one of Toronto\u2019s largest shopping malls and admiring\u00a0a\u00a0108-foot-tall\u00a0Christmas tree lit up in sparkling lights or a drive across the iconic CN Tower to gaze at bright illuminating green and red light displays, Christmas is quite literally, sparkling across every corner of Toronto streets. To conclude the blogpost, listed below is a narrowed down guide of the top 10 best ways to celebrate Christmas in the city of Toronto.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Images below showcase: Toronto Santa Claus Parade, Winterfest at Canada\u2019s Wonderland Amusement Park, Casa Loma historic castle during Christmas, Niagara Falls winter festival of lights, Christmas Market at Distillery District, and Country Bright village Christmas walk-thru.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Top 10 things to do in the holiday season in Toronto, Ontario <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Toronto Santa Claus Parade<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    • The Toronto Santa Claus Parade, also deemed the original Santa Claus parade, is one of the oldest and largest Christmas parades held annually since 1905,\u00a0and\u00a0 attended\u00a0by over half a million spectators. The parade hosts over 25 animated floats or various themes, marching bands, magical characters, celebrity clowns, and celebrity performances.\u00a0In light of\u00a0COVID-19 restrictions, the parade will be televised and held virtually this year.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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      1. Toronto Christmas Market in Distillery District<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n