A Christmas before Canada
Visitors to Fort George were able to step back into a 200-yearold Christmas on the weekend.
“Really what we are showing is what it would be like to be celebrating Christmas in a military garrison,” said Dan Laroche, site supervisor at Fort George. “The Christmas tree we know of today didn’t quite come around yet, that was more Victorian era.”
Simple Christmas decorations adorned the officers’ mess and two musicians played period instruments while visitors were invited to take a closer look.
Laroche explained that the Christmas celebrated at Fort George would be more giving then getting in 1812.
“It would be fairly simple, certainly not like today where Christmas has a lot of light, a lot of dazzle, a lot of gift-giving. It wasn’t quite to that level yet but it was certainly a time of celebration. They had a religious celebration aspect to it and sometimes very nice meals were provided for the men, sometimes at the officers expense,” said Laroche.
Officers would serve the infantry their meals, often paying for the meals out of their own pockets. “You start to see the traditions that still exist today,” said Laroche. “Very small, simple giftgiving was starting at this point. A lot of it for the well-to-do was certainly to enjoy a lovely meal and the next day anything that was left over was given to charity. So a lot of it was almost like a role-reversal. You are giving a little bit to those who aren’t as fortunate.”
Visitors to the Fort on Saturday were able to witness its kitchen in full action, with officers cooking a Christmas meal that was similar to what would have been prepared 200 years ago.
Hot chocolate was also offered to visitors.
“It was slightly different than today’s version, but hot chocolate was popular among the more comfortable classes anyways,” said Laroche. “What we have is a little bit more I think to the modern 21st century tastes, but I’ve had the historic chocolate — it’s an acquired taste.”
Period clothing was also available for the public try on, and there were musket demonstrations and crafts.
Fort George has one more event planned for this year, which will be its final Canada 150 celebration, ICEtravaganza on Dec. 30. Visitors are invited to tour Fort George, take some time on its skating rink, enjoy hot chocolate and s’mores, musket demonstrations and live music, participate in a snowman building contest (weather depending), and watch a skating show performed by Glisse on Ice plus demonstrations by the Canadian Raptor Conservancy.