Canadians look forward to Christmas every year, and the first details to nail down, are where to gather for the event. Whose turn is it to host? What are the plans for Christmas Eve? Many people make these plans long in advance because of the need to arrange travel etc. For blended and reconstituted families,…
According to Wikipedia, The Joy of Cooking is one of the United States’ most-published cookbooks. It has been in print continuously since 1931 and has sold more than 20 million copies. Unlike other cookbooks of the time, the author Irma Rombauer, did not use the standard format for a cookbook. Ingredients were not listed separately,…
As a French-Canadian, I grew up with a slightly different version of the Christmas traditions I have been writing about in this Advent Blog. Nowadays, people recognize the importance of preserving cultural heritage in a fast changing and modernized society and that means, passing down customs, practices and values of our community to the next…
A recent study commissioned by the retail industry revealed that 64% of respondents said they had a traditional gift that they received every year. Many of these recurring gifts were practical ones, such as sweets, gift card/money, books, self-care items and pyjamas. When you are a kid, traditional gifts are appreciated but to be sure…
“Hey Google, Play Jewel 98.5” And just like that, our favourite radio station is pulled in from the airwaves, and begins to fill the room with music, and we go about our business, having never even moved from our seat to turn on the radio. For the millennials reading this article, it used to be…
If you have ever been spent time in Canada’s Capital as a visitor or a resident, then you likely know of the Rideau Canal. The narrow channel weaves through Ottawa landmarks and neighbourhoods along an 8km stretch, connecting the metropolitan’s two universities while delivering the most picturesque scenery a city can provide. Many of us…
Yes, you read that title correctly and it was not a typo. Traditions have always been big in my family, thanks mostly to my husband who was a big fan of repeating events and activities that our daughter enjoyed while growing up. Camping out in the backyard to mark the last day of school, ending…
St. Nicholas was a Bishop who lived in the fourth century in Turkey. He was a kindhearted and generous man, and because he had inherited large wealth from his parents at an early age, he developed a reputation for helping the poor and giving secret gifts to people who needed it. The stories of this…
