Canadian Pioneer Christmas Decorations

Pioneer Christmas Decorations

Early settlers used what was available in Canada during the winter months. They hung evergreen boughs and garlands above the doors and mantels. If they had a second storey in their cabin they would sometimes drape the greenery over the stair banisters.

Only natural decorations were used as, a rule. Things that were on hand and easy to obtain made their way into the pioneer homes – pine cones, nuts, berries and the like. It may have been our Canadian forefathers who invented the cranberry and popcorn strings that were still used in the 20th century in some homes.

As time evolved and other materials came into use, homemade Christmas decorations were crafted from the settler’s homespun cloth and tattings. Dolls and figures were constructed of straw and yarn to add to the festival feel of the cabins.

Canadian pioneers were good at improvising with nature. Even their stocking stuffers were simple, handcrafted items that were added to a few nuts or some fruit. In those days, it was enough to get everyone into the spirit of the holidays.

Canadian Christmas Pioneer Stockings

Many of the traditions of the Canadian pioneer carried through to half way or more of the 20th century. Settler’s stockings usually held nuts or an apple, as well as a smaller treasurer that would have been hand made, such as a cornhusk doll or a beautifully carved little horse complete with mane and tail.

After the year 1860 or so, gingerbread became a Christmas tradition and was sometimes included in the stockings. Of course, they were made completely by hand, being shaped by the baker without the use of modern materials such a cookie cutter. It probably goes without saying that icing bags did not yet exist to decorate the cookies with.

Whereas our stockings are hung by the chimney with care, early Canadian settlers hung theirs on their bedposts. Apparently, Santa was still able to locate and fill them, despite their distance from a mantel.

I'm not sure that in today's high-tech, consumer-driven world, that people would appreciate waking up to find the simple gifts in their socks that our fore bearers did. Then again, maybe reverting back to a simpler time when we were far happier with far less, wouldn't be a bad thing. Perhaps if we were to do that, we as a country could once again feel the true specialness of the Holidays.

Canadian Christmas pioneer stockings - maybe the time is right for a revival.