York Factory Festivities

York Factory National Historic Site

A white Christmas was a time to behold at York Factory. Often celebrated as one big holiday, the period from Christmas to New Year’s Day (and sometimes longer), was as the most festive time of year at the trading post, and others like it. The occasion called for football, dancing, drinking, over-eating and even pranks.

Holiday Games

Christmas was a time for games and sports, such as snowshoeing (which became hugely popular among Canada's upper middle class from the 1840s onward) and racing dog carrioles on frozen rivers. The most popular organised sport in Rupert's Land appears to have been football: although we don’t know what (if any) rules they followed, we do know it formed a regular part of Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.

In 1822, Chief Factor J.G. McTavish had offered a two-gallon keg of rum as a prize for the winner of the Christmas Day football match!

Holiday Beverages

In 1862, the festivities included brandy, tumblers filled with a mixture of brandy, milk and spices called “old man’s milk”, and glasses of wine that were shared with those at the post. According to the Reverend J.P. Gardiner, the visiting went on until 4 o’clock in the afternoon, though the act of “each giving the other grog” could last till late in the evening.

One of the most popular drinks at York Factory was shrub, made with rum, sugar, and orange or lemon juice.

Holiday Gifts

Grown from traditions dating all the way back to at least the early Middle Ages, where landowners and employers were expected to entertain tenant, guests and servants, the Yuletide hospitality of the upper class, including gifts of food, candy and cash.

For part of its 273-year history, York Factory residents would have exchanged gifts at New Year’s, a common practice until the 19th century where the preference for Christmas Day gifts, originally popular in middle-class London, became the norm.

If you need help with your Christmas List, in 1829, the men of York Factory received:

  • 1/2 lbs Raisins
  • 1/4 lb Butter
  • 1/8 lbs Tea
  • 2 lbs Sugar
  • 2 lbs Grease
  • 1 lb Flour
  • 1 lb Salt Pork
  • 1-1/2 lb Fresh Do. [i.e. pork]
  • 1 fresh Goose
  • 1 Rabbit
  • 1 pint Rum
  • 1/2 pint molasses

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