15 Canadian holiday traditions

Pink cloud
For as many years as I can remember my mom has made the family what has now become our Christmas dessert tradition – a tasty concoction called Pink Cloud.

A mixture of whipped cream, strawberry Jell-O and crushed candy canes, all stirred together and then set in a mold. (Half the fun was always trying to get dessert out of the mold.) Top it off with really rich chocolate sauce, and violà, the best dessert after turkey and all the trimmings. No matter how full, we always managed more room for Pink Cloud.

The real story began many years ago when my cousin, around 14 at the time, heard we were having Pink Cloud and was so excited that she actually crawled on hands and knees across the dining room floor to the table. We've never let her live it down and to this day, 25 years later, she still gets reminded of the event.

Well last year we had a new event happen that may have overshadowed the infamous crawl.

My 2-year-old nephew was given his first taste of Pink Cloud. My sister-in-law put a small amount right onto the tray of his high chair. The first taste was tentative, the second taste was enthusiastic, the rest was history. He went face first into the Pink Cloud, only coming up long enough to utter the cutest Mmmmmmmmmm! any of us had ever seen.

He's hooked! Just like the rest of us.
– Jane Hornell

Christmas Baking
Christmas for me has always meant cooking special gifts for family and friends. My mom and I had a list of things we would do every year – braided yeast breads, short bread cookies, gingerbread families and preserves. Each year we would try something new to share.

That first Christmas after she died looked pretty bleak to me as I tried to muster up enough energy and enthusiasm to carry on with the traditions. But I was determined to try.

My daughter and I were at the grocery store picking up the fruit and the nuts and the chocolate and flour and all of a sudden I felt tears on my face.

"Sara, what is the matter with me?" I asked, confused by my sudden emotion in the supermarket!

"Don't you know Mom? This is what you and Nan did every year – came and bought the ingredients and cooked for Christmas. Now, you and I'll do it together."

And so we do. Each year there is still something new and something old and family and friends still enjoy the baskets of goodies from our home to theirs.

But the greatest gifts are to me – from my mother for the memories of our time spent together and from my daughter who understood the importance of our Christmas baking.
– Barbara Case, St. John's , Newfoundland

Hocus Pocus
"Hocus Pocus" was a much welcomed visitor in our home when we were children. This wonderful being appeared when you least expected him, leaving messages with our Dad that treats or candy were to be found somewhere in our home – behind the kitchen clock or in a cupboard – half of the fun was the hunt to find them.

We were never sure when Hocus Pocus would appear, except for that one special time of the year, Christmas morning. When all of the presents had been opened and the stockings had been emptied, a quick trip to your bedroom would lead you to a wonderful gift (from the wackiest least expected surprise, to the most desired treasure you had been dreaming of forever).

These gifts were placed there by the elusive Hocus Pocus who had a spirit of giving and sense of humour suspiciously similar to that of our Dad. We are all grown with families of our own now but the tradition of Hocus Pocus lives on in each of our homes.
– Linda Loder, Carleton Place, Ontario

Ringing Bells for Santa
I would like to tell you about a special family ritual that has been passed on down through the generations of my family.

It started with my grandfather's family in Massachusetts, when every Christmas Eve, just before bedtime, the children would go outside onto the porch in their nightgowns and pajamas and ring bells for Santa.

We would use sleigh bells, jingle bells, cow bells, anything that would make a great noise in the cold crisp air.

I remember the excitement I felt Christmas Eve going out in the cold night knowing that when we woke in the morning there might be a new doll or some art supplies!

Now I have a two-year-old son and still treasure that good old family Christmas ritual.

Looking forward to getting a chill on Christmas eve!
– Holly Miller, Londonderry, Nova Scotia