Page 39 - 200912 - The 'X' Chronicles Newspaper - December 2009

39 Christmas in Canada 39 Christmas in Canada CHRISTMAS IN CHRISTMAS IN CANADA CANADA Christmas in Canada has a neat a little history, Canada was claimed by England in the 1400's later in the 1600's a French explorer by the name of Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec City, and Canada became a country with two distinctive backgrounds living as one. Christmas Eve for the French Canadian was the highlight of the holidays preparing for days for the reveillon, the evening meal. They would the decorate the tree and place the creche, a Nativity scene under the tree before going to midnight mass. They would then come home from church to a feast of la tourtiere, a meat pie and various other dishes. Topping off the meal was the Yule log, a chocolate cake in the shape of a log to symbolize the birch log burned in the fireplace on reveillon before the French came to Canada. The children would open their gifts from their stockings during reveillon saving the big gifts for New Year's day. Christmas day for the French was a day for relaxation and for destroyed over 325 acres of the north end of the Pastry: children to play and have fun. city, killing over 1900 people, and injuring over Christmas for English Canadian's 9000 more. In response to this devastation, the Stir the flour, salt, baking soda, turmeric and focused on Christmas day, with the exchanging people of Boston sent help in the form of savory together in a bowl. of presents on Christmas day in the morning, doctors, nurses, food and supplies. And as a and then off to church, and back later for a great small token of appreciation, Canadians send a Cut in the lard until pieces are the size of peas. feast. Dinner consisted of roast goose or beef special Christmas tree to Boston every year. Add ice water by the tablespoon, stirring with a and plum pudding. One fun tradition they had Christmas is a time for tradition and fork or finger tips until just enough water has was the kissing ball -- a ring of evergreen goodwill toward others. The story of the people been added that you can pat the dough lightly boughs with candles, apples and nuts hung in of Boston helping others in their time of need, into a ball. (Since flour varies, you may not doorway. Although it really represented the even though it was not actually Christmas, still need all the water). return of light after the winter solstice, young exhibits the true spirit of Christmas. And men used this opportunity to steal a kiss from because of the kindness of strangers, a Roll out dough and pat with butter, and roll up any single lady standing under it, hence the celebration between two cities in two separate towards you like a jelly-roll. name of kissing ball. countries has become a holiday tradition. Christmas today in Canada is a Refrigerate for a couple of hours before using. conglomerate of cultures and traditions from all RECIPE FOR A Filling: RECIPE FOR A over the world. As in the United States, our TRADITIONAL country was populated with people emigrating TRADITIONAL Place all the ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to from other countries searching for a better life. TOURTIERE a boil, stirring to break meat into small pieces. TOURTIERE The Christmas tree came from Germany, as well as the Advent Calendars and gingerbread Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. House, the English introduced greeting cards, Add a bit of Quebec to your Christmas meal this from Ireland came the custom of decorating our winter. A meat lover's delight, this savory pork Remove from heat and cool. windows with lights, the United States gave us pie is sure to stave off the heartiest of appetites. Roll out chilled dough, and cut two pieces for Santa Claus, and the French introduced the one 8-inch pie or 8 individual pie plates. creche (Nativity) scene and carols. So really a Ingredients Canadian Christmas is a mixture of various Line pie plate with one of pieces of pastry. cultures combined to create the festivities we Pastry: have come to know. Fill generously with meat mixture. When I sat down to write this article, I 2 cups (500 ml) all-purpose flour was not sure what to write about, since 1 tsp (5 ml) salt Top with the other pastry and pinch edges Christmas in Canada is basically the same as 1/2 tsp (2 ml) baking soda together. Christmas in the United States. As I was doing pinch of turmeric research, I came across articles on the Boston 1/4 tsp (1 ml) savory Brush top with an egg beaten with 2 tbsp. (30 Christmas tree. Growing up in Halifax, Nova 1/2 cup (125 ml) pure lard ml) of water. Scotia, I had taken this tradition for granted, and 1/3 (80 ml) ice water had not really taken a look at the significance 1/3 (80 ml) butter Bake at 400 degrees F until golden brown, serve behind this tradition. This seems to be a habit hot. we all can to fall into around the holidays, Filling: getting caught up into the shopping and commercialism Christmas has become, and 1 lb ground pork forgetting what Christmas is all about. 2 medium potatoes, peeled and grated For those of you that have not heard of 1 small onion, chopped the Boston Christmas Tree tradition, it started 1 garlic clove, minced over eighty years ago with the Halifax 1 tsp. (5 ml) salt Explosion. On December 6, 1917, two ships 1/2 tsp. (2 ml) savory collided in the harbor and caused a large 1/4 (1 ml) ground cloves explosion heard over 100 Km away. The 1/2 cup (125 ml) water explosion and the tidal wave in its aftermath Cooking Instructions