Christmas in the Maritimes: A Treasury of Stories and Memories

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

This is a feel-good collection of 53 short accounts of great Christmas
memories. The subjects are predictable—family traditions, festive
food, gifts, stockings, school concerts, cutting and trimming the tree,
cards, toys, and so forth.

A few of the reminiscences acknowledge the extra workload Christmas
celebrations have meant for mothers, while many recognize the importance
of family to the success of the day. Most of the activities and customs
recalled by the contributors in their look back to this magical season
will be familiar to Canadians regardless of location. Especially
valuable, however, are the accounts that recall a typically Maritime
activity, such as the Lunenburg practice of hand-winding evergreen
wreaths, or the obsession with hanging tinsel. Parents will relate to
the essays that touch on how children grappled with the rumour that
there is no Santa.

It’s a quick read that might serve to prompt some reminiscing and
comparison of Christmas traditions, and would make a stocking stuffer
for anyone with Maritime roots.