From lobster feasts in the Maritimes to Gâteau de Bûche in Québec, diverse traditions light up Christmas Day across Canada. Families gather for midnight Mass or morning worship, then share coast-to-coast cheer with festive meals, carol-singing on Parliament Hill and outdoor fun in snow-clad landscapes.
Coastal & Cultural Feasts
- Maritime lobster dinner: In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Christmas tables feature steamed lobster with drawn butter alongside turkey or ham.
- Québec Réveillon: After midnight Mass, families enjoy tourtière (spiced meat pie), bûche de Noël and pea soup before calling it night.
- West Coast fusion: BC menus blend salmon roasts, sushi platters and wild mushroom stuffings for a Pacific-flavored celebration.
Worship & Carol Traditions
- Midnight Mass: Cathedrals and parish churches—Saint-Joseph's Oratory in Montréal, Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver—fill with candlelight and carols.
- Parliament Hill carols: Ottawa's national broadcast features choirs and brass ensembles performing “Silent Night” beneath the Peace Tower.
- Community sing-alongs: Town squares host outdoor carol sessions with hot chocolate and handbells.
Winter Play & Lights
- Toboggan & sleigh rides: Hills and parks—from Mont Royal to Grouse Mountain—offer family runs and horse-drawn sleighs.
- Light festivals: Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights and Capilano Canyon's illumination trails sparkle through December 25.
- Ice skating: Outdoor rinks—Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Robson Square in Vancouver—host festive skate-together sessions.
Family & Gifting Moments
- Stocking traditions: Children awake to stockings filled with small gifts—maple candies, mittens, storybooks.
- Board games & movies: Families cozy up with classics like “Home Alone” or Canadian-made animations around the tree.
- Boxing Day prep: Many open one gift Christmas morning and save others for the next day's fun.