The snow is falling, lakes are freezing, and the powder is flying – Christmas must be near.
We all have our own favourite Christmas traditions that we celebrated over the years. Most of them are fond memories of when we were a child - whether it was your favourite Christmas ornament or to ensure the advent calendar is always hung in the same place each year.
In Jasper, Christmas celebrations over the years have included a wide range of events.
In earliest times most were low-key gatherings like church pageants, school concerts, sleigh rides and caroling.
Many Jasper events have supported a variety of good causes – Christmas bazaars and teas, the Cookie Walk, Christmas hampers and Santas Anonymous, while others added to the excitement of the season like decorating contests, town sing-a-longs, the Santa Train, and Jasper Welcomes Winter.
Add to these a multitude of community, organizational and private parties and it makes for a very busy season in Jasper.
Ongoing Jasper favourites
The Jasper United Church Christmas Tea and Bazaar goes as far back as the mid-1970s with many people meeting to greet the season with homemade goodies or a unique find from the Christmas craft tables.
For the past 16 years, VIA Rail has organized the Annual Santa Train which is always well attended by children of all ages excited to see Santa. The train travels from Jasper to the Yellowhead station in B.C. with all proceeds raised going to support Santas Anonymous.
Since the mid-1990s the Jasper Rotary Club has hosted their annual Seniors Christmas Luncheon at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge where the seniors of Jasper get to enjoy a fabulous lunch by some of the best chefs in town.
The Anglican and United Churches presented a Christmas Cantata in the 1940s. Years later (1950s) the Jasper Glee Club was formed and presented Christmas Concerts for many years – lately these concerts have been presented by the Summit Singers and the Jasper Community Choir.
Arts Jasper started a Christmas Sing-a-Long in 1975, the following year the Jasper Glee Club took over the presentation, and later the Jasper Community and Family services organized the evening event. Events like these have come and gone over the years and were dependent on who wanted to organize it.
A new tradition of lighting up a World Tree at Robson Park with a bonfire and sing-along is a welcome addition to an ever-evolving list of celebrations to share with our community. The Jasper Community Choir, directed by Jane Kristenson, performed at the park as well as their Christmas Concert in 2018 and 2019 at The Jasper United Church, to much acclaim.
Each year the Friends of Jasper National Park holds their Annual Christmas bird count. Volunteers show up regardless of the weather to lend a hand in this world-wide event. This year they will be celebrating their 39th year.
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge’s Christmas in November, which began in 1988, is a two-week long celebration with a variety of presenters, activities and sessions to attend. There are cooking tips and tricks, tailgate parties, a holiday market, photos with Santa, and Christmas decorating tips.
Jasper’s Santas Anonymous, a program of the Jasper Community Team Society, has been going on for years. Santas Anonymous provides holiday food and gifts to more than 60 families every year. The program is supported by local individuals, businesses and organizations and is administered by the Municipality of Jasper’s Community and Family Services department.
Over the years the Filipino community has really grown in Jasper and since 2002, they have hosted their very own Traditional Filipino Christmas Party. They celebrate Christmas with singing, dancing and plenty of food.
The Municipality of Jasper also hosts a Christmas bash at the Activity Centre each year. This long-standing tradition allows you to dress up and celebrate Christmas with drinking, eating, dancing and awards with a great mix of community members.
The Jasper Legion, along with a number of volunteers, serves up turkey dinner each year on Dec. 25. The long-standing event has been going on for more than 25 years. This free dinner, sponsored by Local Teamsters division 898, allows many families and those who are new to town a welcome way to celebrate Christmas.
At the museum, we will be celebrating our 20th Annual Festival of Trees display and silent auction. However, due to COVID, we will be changing things up a bit and will be posting all silent auction items online at https://www.32auctions.com/JYHSMAFOT2020 and our website jaspermuseum.org. You will still get an opportunity to come and see all of the beautifully decorated trees but all bidding will take place online. The festival will run from Nov. 21 to Dec. 12.
Days gone by
For years, Operation Christmas Child by the Jasper Elementary School would help make up Christmas shoeboxes. In 2002, the school questioned if they should still be involved in the program, and after much discussion decided to go ahead for at least another year. That year they helped set a new national record, 740,000 Christmas shoeboxes from Canada were sent to children around the world.
Jasper Welcomes Winter Festival, which took place in early December, included the Santa Claus Parade, the Festival of Trees and the Big Rock Moonlight Jam at the Whistle Stop.
There were Christmas decorating contests, gingerbread house making, skating with Santa, film night, United Church Tea and Bazaar and the Christmas Craft Fair. For years, it even included the Jasper Skating Club’s Christmas Ice Show. Sadly, some of these events no longer take place.
Traditions are satisfying to the soul and comforting to the spirit and the enacting of them brings a sense of peace and contemplations.
With COVID this year, some of our traditions may not be possible, but now is the time to start new traditions. It is important to remember old traditions, but also to begin new ones – a little of the old and a little of the new, because it helps to remind us that things change.
Jasper-Yellowhead Museum & Archives hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Thursday to Sunday at 400 Bonhomme St. (Across from the Activity Centre). Visit our Gift Shop for Moonlight Madness specials on Friday, Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Discounts of 15% - 30% on everything in the store. Members receive a further discount of 10 - 20% depending on level of membership. Best selection of books in Jasper.
