It’s Christmas, a time for family, a time for peace on Earth, a time for reflection, a time for tradition, a time to think of those in need. Oh, and a time for shopping for gifts as well.
Consider what the season was like in Victoria in 1922, a century ago.
“In spite of repeated appeals to the public to shop early and avoid the last-minute rush on Christmas Eve, the stores were crowded on Saturday evening, when the business of the week culminated in a rush which almost swept the assistants off their feet,” the Victoria Daily Times reported.
“The downpour of rain had the effect of confining most of the last-minute shopping to the larger department stores, busy shoppers preferring to do as much of their purchasing under the one roof to avoid the elements, with the results that the smaller stores experienced a period of comparative quiet during the evening.”
Christmas Day in 1922 was on a Monday, and in those days before Sunday shopping, the rush came on Dec. 23. Stores did what they could to meet the demand, staying open until 10 p.m.
“Their doors emitted a steady stream of weary purchasers laden down with parcels, father juggling a tea set, a doll and some books for Mary, an engine and a table game a ball and books for little John, a secret gift for mother, purchased while her attention as diverted elsewhere, while mother performed juggling feats with a plethora of mysterious parcels and tried to keep under the umbrella held by father and at the same time to avoid the puddles created by the downpour of rain,” the Times reported.
But, then as now, there was more — much more — to Christmas.
The Daily 91原创 reported that Christmas hampers were given to about 800 people. The effort followed an appeal for funds and for help from businesses.
“In each hamper was a gift of meat for the Christmas dinner, Pat Burns having very generously supplied at the rate of half a pound per person with each hamper,” the 91原创 reported.
A giant Christmas tree was erected in the children’s ward at the Jubilee Hospital. This, the 91原创 said: “brought joy to the hearts of the little patients.” They were joined by older patients as well as nurses on duty and members of the hospital board for the festive evening.
“Santa Claus was a great success. Arrayed in crimson and white, he had a string of sleigh bells for a girdle, and jingle rhythmically as he trotted about, distributing the presents from a huge pile at the foot of the Christmas tree,” the newspaper reported.
“There was something for everyone, and it took quite half an hour to read out the long list of names and get the gifts to the right people.”
Santa was certainly busy that year. The news columns mentioned his visits to children in Deep Cove, Colwood, Cobble Hill, James Island, Lantzville and Extension (the coal mining community south of Nanaimo) as well to children in Victoria.
The 47 children in the orphanage were treated to a special Christmas program as well. At St. Joseph’s Hospital, “the children’s ward gave striking evidence that some very kind friend of the little ones knew that Christmas was, first of all, Children’s Day,” the 91原创 said.
Patients there were induced to forget that they were ill and away from home, thanks to the Sisters who decorated their breakfast trays with a Christmas theme.
The real meaning of Christmas was not forgotten. Churches offered Christmas services, and special programs of music were a vital part of the season. Among the titles featured were Good King Wenceslas, Holy Night, The Star of Bethlehem, We Three Kings and A Child This Day is Born.
All of this is a reminder that as the years fly past, the spirit of Christmas remains as strong as ever. It is a season of giving — giving presents, giving food, giving hope, and more.
It is a season that brings us all together, no matter what our beliefs might be, and no matter what other differences we might have. It is a season like no other, one we must cherish.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
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