Christmas Traditions in Canada: Holiday Celebrations from Coast to Coast

It’s normal to miss home around the holidays. As you embrace Canadian traditions this season, try to bring a bit of home into your celebrations too. You might cook a dish that reminds you of where you’re from, watch a favourite holiday movie, or call your loved ones.

Maybe you don’t usually celebrate Christmas—and that’s completely OK. In Canada, Christmas is widely seen as a secular holiday, despite its roots in Christianity. You don’t have to be religious to put up a Christmas tree or write a letter to Santa.

Many (though not all) holiday traditions in Canada have their roots in Europe. So if you’re from France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Norway, or Ukraine, some of the festivities may feel familiar.

While no two Christmases look the same, different regions in Canada often have traditions shaped by local history and culture. Still, there are a few holiday traditions shared across most of the country, including:

Canada-wide Christmas Traditions

Decorating

While the “right” time to start decorating for Christmas is up for debate (is it OK to decorate before Remembrance Day?), many people begin as early as November or even right after Halloween.

Common decorations include a Christmas tree with lights and ornaments, a wreath on the front door, and stockings for everyone in the household, just to name a few.

In some communities, people enjoy driving around to admire the decorations on their neighbours’ lawns and houses. Some displays are simple, while others are surprisingly elaborate.

Writing letters to Santa

Did you know the North Pole is in Canada?

Every year, Canada Post receives more than a million letters addressed to Santa Claus from children in Canada and around the world. With the help of more than 6,000 volunteers, Canada Post replies to every letter in the same language it was written.

Find here the guidelines to write your letter: Write a letter to Santa!

Giving gifts

Many Canadians spend hundreds of dollars on Christmas gifts each year. The Retail Council of Canada even runs an annual survey to track holiday spending. In 2025, the average came in at around $975 CAD!

Of course, not everyone spends that much, and that’s totally normal. Expensive gifts aren’t usually expected unless it’s close family. Friends or co-workers often exchange small gifts and agree on a maximum price. Partners and family members may choose to spend more.

Here are some fun gift exchange games you can play with your friends, roommates, or co-workers

• Secret Santa: All participants names (and sometimes their wishlists) are placed in a hat and mixed up. Each person chooses a name from the hat, and doesn’t tell the others who they picked. They then buy a gift for the person they picked. They wrap the gift and label it with the recipients name but do not put their own (afterall, it’s “Secret” Santa.) On the day of the exchange, all presents are placed in a pile and the giftees retrieve their present. They then try to guess who their Secret Santa is.
• White Elephant/Dirty Santa/Grinch Game: A bit like Secret Santa, all participants buy a gift and place it in a pile. Everyone then picks a number, which decides the order in which people get to choose a gift from the pile. One-by-one, participants choose a gift and open it in front of everyone. Then the person who goes next can either steal that gift or pick a new one from the pile. If they do steal a gift from a participant who has gone before them, that person gets to choose a new gift from the pile or steal a gift from someone else. In this game, it’s said that the person who goes last has the advantage, as they can see all but one of the gifts unwrapped and have the chance to steal from anyone.

In general, handmade gifts and consumables go a long way. You may find that it’s not how much you spend on a gift, but the thought put into it that really counts.

Popular Holiday Celebrations in Canada’s Provinces and Regions.

British Columbia (BC)

• VanDusen Festival of Lights  is a popular holiday event in Vancouver that runs from late November to early January. Visitors can walk through 15 acres of gardens lit up with over one million twinkling lights, themed displays, and music shows.
  There are also food vendors, interactive exhibits, and festive activities for all ages.
• The Vancouver Christmas Market is a festive holiday event in downtown Vancouver that brings a traditional European-style Christmas village to the city each winter.
  Visitors can wander through cozy wooden huts selling handmade gifts, seasonal food, and warm drinks like mulled wine, all while enjoying live music.
  It’s a favourite holiday tradition and a great place to shop, eat, and soak up the Christmas atmosphere.

Alberta

• The Alberta Festival of Trees Is a beloved holiday event in Edmonton that brings families and friends together to celebrate the season and support health care in the community. It features festive activities like a gala, cocktail soirée, and family-friendly Santa’s Breakfast while raising funds for the University Hospital Foundation. In 2025, the event has raised over $2.8 million to help advance health research and care across Alberta.
• The Banff Christmas Market is a festive holiday event in the Canadian Rockies that combines European-style market charm with beautiful mountain views.
  Visitors can browse artisan stalls, enjoy live music, sip warm drinks, try festive treats, and stop by Santa’s House.
  Held over several weekends from late November to mid-December, it offers a cozy and magical holiday atmosphere for all ages.

Saskatchewan

• The BHP Enchanted Forest in Saskatoon is a magical holiday light display that brightens the season with thousands of sparkling lights and themed scenes.
  Visitors can walk through illuminated paths, enjoy festive sights, and take in the cheerful atmosphere with family and friends.
  It’s a beloved winter tradition that brings holiday joy to the community.
• The Saskatoon Santa Claus Parade is a lively, annual holiday event featuring colourful floats, music, and of course, Santa himself.
  Families line the streets to watch the festive procession and kick off the Christmas season together.
  It’s one of the city’s favourite ways to celebrate and spread holiday cheer.

Manitoba

• The Canad Inns Winter Wonderland in Winnipeg is a seasonal holiday event filled with lights, festive displays, and family-friendly activities.
  Visitors can stroll through cheerful winter scenes, enjoy music and decorations, and soak up the holiday spirit.
  It’s a popular way for locals and visitors to celebrate the season together.
• Zoo Lights in Winnipeg turns the zoo into a glowing holiday attraction with colourful light displays and themed exhibits after dark.
  Families can walk through illuminated paths, see lighted animals, and enjoy a magical evening out.
  It’s a fun and festive tradition that brings holiday cheer to all ages.

Ontario

• The Distillery Winter Village in Toronto is a charming holiday market set among historic buildings with twinkling lights and festive décor.
  Visitors can explore artisan stalls, enjoy seasonal food and drinks, and take part in holiday activities.
  It’s a favourite holiday destination for families and friends looking for a cozy, festive experience.
• Canada’s Wonderland WinterFest transforms the theme park near Toronto into a winter wonderland with millions of lights, holiday shows, and festive attractions.
  Guests can meet Santa, enjoy ice skating, ride holiday-themed rides, and savour seasonal treats.
  It’s a magical holiday tradition that’s fun for all ages.

Quebec

• The German Christmas Market in Quebec City runs from late November to just before Christmas and brings a traditional European holiday village to life.
  Visitors can browse artisan stalls, taste seasonal treats like mulled wine and gingerbread, and enjoy festive music and performances.
  It’s a cheerful, old-world holiday experience in the heart of the city.
• Quartier Petit Champlain becomes a magical holiday destination in winter with twinkling lights, decorated streets, and charming shops.
  Stroll through one of North America’s oldest shopping districts, enjoy seasonal displays, and soak up the festive atmosphere.
  It’s a must-see holiday tradition for visitors and locals alike.

New Brunswick

• European-style Christmas markets in New Brunswick bring cozy holiday villages to life with wooden stalls, lights, and festive décor.
  Visitors can browse handmade gifts, enjoy warm drinks and seasonal treats, and listen to holiday music.
  They offer a charming, relaxed way to celebrate the season with a European feel.

• Narnia and other themed Christmas markets in New Brunswick transform local spaces into magical winter worlds inspired by stories and fantasy.
  Families can explore decorated paths, meet characters, shop for gifts, and enjoy festive activities.
  These markets are especially popular with children and add a playful twist to holiday celebrations.

Nova Scotia

• Lunenburg Christmas Craft Festival: The town of Lunenburg—considered the Balsam Fir Christmas Tree Capital of the World— hosts a festive Christmas market and events celebrating maritime traditions. You’ll also find lobster-trap Christmas trees in Nova Scotia.
• Belsnickling: Brought over by German immigrants, Belsnicklers dress in costumes and go through the town from house to house. If their neighbours guess their identity, the Belsnickler gets to eat some cake or cookies.

Prince Edward Island (PEI)

• Charlottetown Christmas Festival: The city of Charlottetown has a festival dedicated to holiday events, carriage rides, and markets.
• A Green Gables Christmas: The historic Green Gables Heritage Place celebrates with Victorian-style decorations and themed events based on Canada’s most beloved fictional character, Anne of Green Gables.

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Mummering: This tradition involves dressing up in disguises and visiting neighbors for songs and merriment during the holidays.
• Fisherman’s Brewis: Some families enjoy a traditional meal of Fisherman’s Brewis, made with salt cod and hard bread, on Christmas Eve.

Nunavut

• Holiday Qaumakuluit: Inuit Elders in Iqualuit judge the Christmas lights displays of homes and businesses for prizes.
• Iqualuit Santa Claus Parade: Local businesses, organizations and individuals are encouraged to show their community spirit by joining Santa in a parade! Following the parade, kids can meet Saint Nick himself, and warm up with some hot chocolate.

Northwest Territories

• Christmas Craft Sale: Artists from across the Western Arctic gather in Inuvik to sell their creations.
• Sunrise Festival: Because of its latitude, NWT does not see sun during the month of December. However, early in the new year locals will celebrate the rising of a sun with a “Sunrise Festival”. There you can see traditional Inuk drummers, dancers, and other festivities to celebrate the rising of the sun.

Yukon

• Light the Giant Christmas Tree: Each year, Whitehorse welcomes in the Christmas season by lighting the gigantic evergreen tree along with a Santa Claus Parade.
• Festival of Trees: A fundraiser for the Yukon Hospital Foundation, you’ll find crafts, a silent auction, 50/50 raffle tickets and more.

Canadian Holiday Recipes: Butter Tart!

For a festive Canadian treat, try making your own butter tarts at home.

For the Pastry:

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 1/4 cup ice water

Or skip making your own pastry and buy some pre-made tart shells at the grocery store. We won’t judge.

For the Filling:

• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup corn syrup (you could substitute maple syrup but corn syrup is traditional)
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup raisins or pecans (optional)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Pastry:

In a bowl, whisk together the flour and salt.

Cut in the cold butter (ideally with a pastry cutter) until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Drizzle the ice water over the mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with a fork until the dough comes together. Form it into a disc, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 30 minutes. You want pastry batter to be cold for maximum flakiness.

2. Preheat Oven and Prepare Muffin Tin:

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Grease a muffin tin or use tart molds if you have them.

3. Roll out pastry and line muffin cups:

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry to about 1/8 inch thickness.

Cut out circles slightly larger than the muffin cups and gently press them into the cups, forming pastry shells.

4. Prepare the Filling:

In a mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, melted butter, beaten egg, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix until well combined.

If using, divide raisins or pecans among the pastry shells, sprinkling them into the bottom of each.

5. Fill the Pastry Shells:

Spoon the filling mixture evenly into each pastry shell, filling about 2/3 full.

6. Bake:

Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is golden and the filling is set but still slightly jiggly in the center.

Keep an eye on them towards the end to prevent over-browning.

7. Cool and Serve:

Allow the butter tarts to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Once cooled, enjoy! Butter tarts are best served at room temperature. You can store them in an airtight container for a few days, but they are often eaten before they have a chance to last that long.

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