Christmas, a holiday where a large man in red brings presents to worthy children.
I’ve always wanted to play Santa, I’ve been growing my beard in preparation for my big role, but I fear the only thing that I’ve done to prepare is grow more rotund, or as I normally put it, my winter insulation.
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Luckily, for the Barr Colonists back in 1903, they didn’t have to worry about finding someone jolly enough to play the big man. The good Rev. George Exton Lloyd suited up ready to spread holiday cheer to children and adults. Although he dressed as Father Christmas, who was distinct from the Santa we know today, he represented the personification of Christmas.
The first Christmas for the colonists was a big party. There are a few accounts of what happened, a procession of Northwest Mounted Police officers carried in a huge plum cake. An art gallery of Currier and Ives illustrations were assembled for the first Christmas bash. Partygoers sang, performed dramatic skits and topped it off with some energetic round dancing, which didn’t conclude until 4 a.m.
Christmas pageants have been presented by local churches here in Lloyd since 1903
Festive traditions continue in the Border City today, with long-time staples like the Here Comes Santa Claus Day, the Parade of Lights and the Kiwanis Park light display.
I’m sure I’m missing some traditions but those are the ones I could remember off the top of my head. Christmas is a time to celebrate and come together with friends and family. Every year, I end up travelling somewhere for Christmas to see family, and while the days may be packed, I always find myself on the other side wishing it lasted longer.
Today, just a month from 2026, you likely know Christmas as the largely commercial holiday. Shopping centres are packed to the brim with those last-minute shoppers looking to get that gift for that special someone. I’m relatively indifferent to how people want to partake in Christmas, or even what they want to call it. To each their own.
This year, I did my shopping online, which is something I’d never done before. And if you ask my wife, I still haven’t. She ordered everything and I sent over the money, another job well done by yours truly.
As we gear up for our year-in-review papers, that means I will be on column break for two weeks while we reflect on 2025. Next week, I’ll chat a little bit about the new year and the excitement that brings, but with this column, I wanted to wish everyone a happy Christmas filled with festive merriment, family and relaxation in advance.
Also, before I sign off, I wanted to make a correction to my column last week, which talked about Walter Andrew “Slim” Thorpe. Hopefully, if you read the column, you enjoyed it, but at the beginning, I incorrectly listed his birth year as 1984. If you switch around a couple of numbers, you get his actual year of birth, 1894.
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