13 Things You Didn’t Know About Christmas in Canada
Do you know Rudolph's Canadian connection? Or how many turkeys get devoured at Canadian dinner tables?
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Canadian Christmas Facts Yule Love
Canadians Can’t Get Enough Eggnog
Don’t knock the nog. According to Statistics Canada, just under 6-million litres of eggnog are sold across Canada in an average December. While eggnog isn’t everyone’s idea of a delicious holiday tipple, it’s obvious that many Canadians do enjoy it.
…And It Must Pair Well With Gingerbread
The most-searched recipe on ReadersDigest.ca last December was for easy gingerbread cookies. (We don’t blame you.)
Discover our top 60 Christmas cookie recipes of all time.
A Christmas Story Has Canadian Roots
The risqué leg lamp. Ralphie’s sliding rejection from Santa. Flick’s tongue mishap. Can you imagine the holidays without an annual screening of A Christmas Story? While the tale appears to be all-American, a substantial part of the movie was filmed in Canada. Ralphie’s school, the Chinese restaurant where his family eats Christmas dinner, the famous swearing scene as well as the interior segments were all shot in Canada. And where else would you find the old TTC “red rocket” streetcars?
In the mood for a very merry marathon? Check out our countdown of the best Christmas movies of all time.
The Prime Minister Doesn’t Want Your Gifts
If you want to send a little holiday cheer to the Prime Minster, think again. The Federal Accountability Act of 2006—as well as security protocol—state that Canada’s PM and his family cannot accept monetary presents, gift cards or perishable items such as Christmas cookies or cakes. And don’t even bother sending other items—they may be severely damaged during the security screening process.
These vintage Christmas cakes are too good to give away, anyway!
We’re as Generous as Ever
According to a Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada study, the average Canadian is planning on spending $589 on gifts this year—that’s on par with previous years, despite the fact that two-thirds say inflation will make shopping more challenging.
Check out our great Canadian gift guide for 50 inspired ideas under $50.
Some Canadians Never Learn
That same survey discovered that 11% of Canadians admit they’ll leave this year’s holiday shopping to the last minute. (Only 7% of us shop for holiday gifts throughout the year.)
Kick off your holiday countdown with one of these unique advent calendars.
Santa Has a Lot of Canadian Elves
Since 1982, Santa’s Post Office has employed mailroom elves from Canada, and he has received more than 20 million letters from children around the world. Canada Post volunteers donate over 200,000 hours of their time each year to help Santa respond to every letter that arrives on his doorstep.
Putting pen to paper for your own season’s greetings? Here’s helpful advice on what to write in a Christmas card.
Canada Grows A Lot of Christmas Trees
Did you know our country has 1,872 Christmas tree farms? According to Statistics Canada, the farms were concentrated in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
If you can’t spend Christmas in Canada, you might as well take a little piece of the country with you. Each year, Canada exports more than two million Christmas trees to over 20 countries, including Barbados, France, Jamaica and Thailand.
This is the best time to buy a Christmas tree in Canada.
Rudolph Was Canadian
If you were born in Canada after 1964, your Christmases probably involved an annual viewing of the “animagic” holiday special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Rankin-Bass, an American production company, created this beloved Christmas program, but did you know that there’s a secret Canadian connection? All the characters’ voices (with the exception of Sam the Snowman) were performed by Canadian actors, singers and voiceover artists at the RCA Victor Studios in Toronto.
Check out the best Christmas movies on Netflix right now.
Canadians Really Dig Turkey
According to Turkey Farmers of Canada, Canadians purchased a mighty 2.1-million whole turkeys for Christmas 2021. That amounts to 45 per cent of all turkeys sold that year.
Don’t miss these laugh-out-loud funny Christmas stories shared by our readers.
Canadians Can’t Get Enough of Ballet
Dreaming of Sugar Plum fairies, mice and soldiers dancing through your holiday season? Since 1995, the National Ballet of Canada’s The Nutcracker has been wowing audiences from coast to coast. Over one million people have watched the annual performance since its premiere, and as of 2018, 7,410 pairs of pointe shoes have been used by The Nutcracker‘s ballerinas.
Check out more quintessential Canadian holiday traditions.
Christmas Isn’t Only Once a Year
In some corners of Canada, it’s Christmas 365 days a year. Welcome to Reindeer Station (Northwest Territories), Christmas Island (Nova Scotia), Sled Lake (Saskatchewan), Holly (Ontario), Noel (Nova Scotia), Turkey Point (Ontario) and Snowflake (Manitoba).
Here are more funny place names across Canada.
Canadians Are Always Giving Back
According to Statistics Canada, over 12.7-million Canadians (41 percent of the population aged 15 and over) volunteered for charities, non-profits and community organizations in 2018. Meanwhile, the amount in donations to charities claimed by Canadian taxfilers in 2017 was an impressive $9.6 billion.
If you enjoyed these Canadian Christmas facts, be sure to check out the 20 best places to spend Christmas in Canada.
