The first recorded Christmas in Canada was in 1535, near what is now known as the City of Quebec.Jacques Carier and one hundred and ten settlers came to our beautiful country the previous summer by ship, building themselves a fortress on the shores of the St. Charles River. Their newly constructed lodgings would not protect them well in our Canadian winter, however. Inexperience in preparing for our harsh climate was also to play a part in the challenges they would face.
By the time Christmas rolled around, they had lost men to cold, were suffering from scurvy and were wary of the Native inhabitants. All was not lost for the holiday, though. Chief Donnacona regaled the settlers with adventurous tales and there was some food still, though it consisted mainly of salt meat and wilted vegetables.
I found this to be an interesting story, one that I had not come across before. The website that I found it on credits it to the Montreal Star. I can’t say if that’s true or not. There is no author name for contact.
If you would like to read the details of the first Christmas in Canada, click HERE.***
*** Update, 2012 - sorry, folks but the link no longer works.
