The seasonal customs of Canada have come from many lands.The settlers of German descent brought the idea of a Christmas tree to Canada, from England came the custom of the kissing ball, while the tradition of Santa Claus, gift giving, and caroling all date back centuries to the pagan celebration of winter solstice festivals.
The first Christmas tree in Canada was set up in Sorel, Quebec in 1781 by Baron Friederick von Riedesel. The baron, who was born in Germany, selected a balsam fir and decorated it with white candles.
The next recorded use of a Christmas tree appeared in Halifax in 1846, when William Pryor, a local merchant, cut down an evergreen and decorated it with glass ornaments imported from Germany to please his German wife.
After that, the custom spread quickly throughout the growing nation. The Christmas tree was introduced in the United States in 1804.
Tradition symbols of the season quickly gained acceptance in the new country of Canada. Celebrations differed across the land because of the influence of the lifestyles of the new settlers who brought with them the traditions of their homeland.
In Quebec, children hung stockings beside the tree on Christmas eve in the belief that they would be filled by the Christ child. French-Canadian children waited until New Year's Day to receive the rest of their presents.
In Ontario, Christmas was observed in the manner of Victorian England. Carol singers roamed from house to house, Christmas cards were exchanged, and banquet tables were laden with roast beef, plum pudding, and boar's head. In 1882, the Toronto newspaper, The Globe, reported nearly a million Christmas gifts had been sold that year in the city.
