The annual Mummers Festival Parade (Photo by Christopher Deacon)
By Candice Walsh
Everyone has their own Christmas or holiday traditions, but in Newfoundland, sometimes we do things a little, well, different. Here’s how to celebrate the holidays like a Newfoundlander. (more…)
The Four Season's Centre's Nutcracker. Photo by Bruce Zinger.
Between now and New Year’s you’ll find no shortage of things to do in Toronto, what with the sing-alongs and music performances and the shopping. (And even more shopping!)
But if culture is what you seek, check out Torontoist’s fab holiday shows round-up. They’ve reviewed of the seven theatre, dance and comedy performances from now through January 1 that range from family-friendly (the Nutcracker and the Wizard of Oz) to hilariously racy and quite possibly raunchy (Second City’s “Dysfunctional Holiday Revue” and Tarragon Theatre’s “A Very Lupe Xmas”).
Photo by Om
By Kat Tancock
Baby, it’s dark outside—and it’s going to get worse before it gets better. Brighten up your cold winter nights and get in the holiday spirit with these gorgeous Canadian lights displays. (more…)
Grand Parade square in downtown Halifax, in front of Halifax City Hall, hosts Atlantic Canada’s biggest New Year’s Eve party. Festivities begin at 9:30pm, with live entertainment and a spectacular fireworks show at midnight.
Photo courtesy of the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland & Labrador.
By Candice Walsh
A mummer, by definition, is “a masked or costumed merrymaker, especially at a festival.” The origins of mummering are a little hazy and the tradition is scattered around the globe: the Brits refer to it as “mumming” and the Philadelphia Mummers Parade on New Years’ Day is an extravaganza of elaborate pageantry in the style of Carnival or Mardi Gras.
Newfoundland’s tradition is a little different from most, and only takes place during Christmas (the exception sometimes being Come Home Year celebrations). (more…)
Malls like the Toronto Eaton Centre go all out for the holiday season (photo by Rasheed Clarke)
Have you finished your holiday shopping yet? We know, finding gifts for everyone
on your list can be a daunting task. If you’re inclined to get all your shopping done in
one shot, the city’s premier malls and department stores offer multiple ways
to ease the experience.
TORONTO EATON CENTRE
Downtown’s largest shopping centre has cranked up its seasonal cheer with oversized snowflakes and giant silvery reindeer sculptures. The crowning gem is the Swarovski Christmas Wish Tree alight with more than 44,000 Swarovski crystal ornaments. In sight of this monolith, children can register to create their own holiday ornaments. Santa’s out in full force, too: bring your child to hear Saint Nick read a story, or schedule a 10-minute at-home Skype session with the jolly old man. Gift wrapping is available for a $5 donation benefitting the Children’s Wish Foundation. And when all your gifts are safely boxed and bagged, why not view the nearby Church of the Holy Trinity’s production of The Christmas Story? iPhone users can download the Toronto Eaton Centre’s mobile app to streamline their shopping experience.
YORKDALE SHOPPING CENTRE
Holiday stress often begins with packed mall parking lots. Yorkdale offers a remedy. The only shopping centre in the GTA to offer a mobile app for parking, which offers updates on your best parking bets every 15 minutes, plus streaming video of the mall’s upper deck lot. Yorkdale’s parking entrances are even equipped with electronic tabulators that note the number of spaces available, and valet parking is complimentary for MasterCard World cardholders. If you prefer public transit, visit with your TTC Family Day Pass and receive a $10 gift card when you spend $50 or more in the mall. Other bonuses include a complimentary coat check, Santa sightings, and a gift-wrap service.
Get your fill of holiday music with The Good Lovelies.
This Canadian folk group takes the stage at Shenkman Arts Centre on Dec. 13 as part of their special Christmas tour. Where Ottawa editor Misa Kobayashi caught up with The Good Lovelies in advance of their local show to find out about their travel essentials, where they love to eat when they’re in Ottawa, and more.
What’s your favourite activity to do on the road?
Well, we bought some skipping ropes about a year ago. When we get restless, we get out of the car and jump rope for a few minutes. Invariably, we make friends with any young girls that happen to be around. They join in without asking. It’s a way more fun version of the elementary school playground! And we love eating in new places, checking out the local cuisine. Recently we had some incredible Indian food in Northern Ontario in Bruce Mines. Go figure! (more…)
Bird decorations from Homesense
Cheep Cheep Cheer
Even those who believe the holiday season is for the birds can’t resist adorable felt owls from Homesense ($4.99). Find more seasonal decorations that won’t break the budget at Sears and Christmas Street in The Bay.—Sheri Radford
More information:
HOMESENSE 493 Robson St. 604-683-4406. www.homesense.ca
SEARS Pacific Centre, 701 Granville St. 604-685-7112. www.sears.ca
THE BAY 674 Granville St. at Georgia. 604-681-6211. www.thebay.com
Cats are not eligible to enter Wyndham's Horrible Holiday Gift contest, much to Furball's chagrin. Photo by alli.
By Carissa Bluestone
The Wyndham hotel chain is running a humorous holiday contest for its Wyndham Rewards members (joining the points program is free). Snap a photo of the worst sweater, the most useless electronic device or the most cringingly inappropriate gag gift you receive, and enter it in “My Horrible Holiday Gift.” The grand prize is 2 million Wyndham Rewards points (a value of approximately $10,000). Four runners-up will receive 25,000 points. In addition, every entrant is automatically put into the pool for weekly drawings awarding 12,500 points. (more…)
The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver's Candy Castle. Photo courtesy Fairmont
Celebrate in style this holiday season.
1 Oru in the Fairmont Pacific Rim invites you to indulge in a festive lunch buffet, with traditional faves and modern Asian influences (11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays from Dec. 5 to 24, $34.95 per person).
2 Shaughnessy Restaurant, tucked away in the magical surroundings of VanDusen Botanical Garden’s Festival of Lights, serves West Coast and continental fare nightly.
3 The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s Candy Castle (pictured) is the centrepiece of the historic hotel’s holiday festivities, a fitting welcome to 900 West Lounge.
4 The 50th annual Carol Ships Parade of Lights cruises Burrard Inlet, False Creek and English Bay from Dec. 2 to 23. Prime viewing points include Cardero’s, Lift Bar-Grill-View, The Teahouse in Stanley Park, The Salmon House on the Hill, Bridges and the English Bay location of The Boathouse.
5 Bacchus Restaurant and Lounge at the Wedgewood Hotel yields a festive traditional setting with it blazing hearth, carol singers at some lunchtimes and a wealth of seasonal fare.—Tim Pawsey
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