It’s the time of year when Christmas decorations multiply! The giant fir trees shining with a thousand lights, the luminous balls and the magical decorations stem from long traditions, recalls Yvan Drouin, who has been offering guided walking tours in Old Montreal and downtown for almost 15 years, in order to admire a more informed eye the decorative elements announcing the approach of the holidays.
“I like to rediscover the spirit of Christmas, which is considered the biggest holiday on the calendar, but from which we are disconnected, by telling its origins, what characterizes it, as well as its evolution, since this holiday, over years, transforms, modernizes and adapts according to the various currents of thought”, explains the founder and director of Tours Kaléidoscope, who personally leads the guided tours on the history and legends of Christmas, from 8 december.
The spectacular decorations in Old Montreal, the Quartier des Spectacles and downtown Montreal will serve as a pretext to explore different themes.
Organizations spend astronomical sums to install their sets, uninstall them and store them, for our pleasure. We should perhaps understand a little more what they mean, because those who made them, be they the artists, the builders or others, have all researched the spirit of each of these decorations in the Christmas party setting.
Yvan Drouin, director of Kaleidoscope Tours
It offers three routes. Two more complete and distinct, 90 minutes each, take place in Old Montreal or downtown. The third, of two hours and a half, makes discover the significant places in the two districts. The longest tour, designed for those who live outside Montreal and only want to go once, starts at 3 p.m., before nightfall, and begins with the nativity scene inside the cathedral Mary Queen of the World.
“She’s very beautiful, there are a lot of characters and she’s one of the only ones who doesn’t put Jesus Christ ahead of time,” says Yvan Drouin. There are nativity scenes in other churches where Jesus has already been born, although it is not yet Christmas. I explain that, the origin of the Three Kings, the meaning of the ox and the donkey, and so on. »
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PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
There were few festivities in New France during the holiday season, those who will discover Old Montreal, discovering the history and legends of Christmas.
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PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Immense luminous stars animate the Place d’Armes, in front of the Notre-Dame de Montréal basilica.
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
There is magic in the air at Complexe Desjardins.
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
Santa Claus is comfortably installed at the Complexe Desjardins, until he has to leave to distribute the gifts.
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PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
This storefront of the Eaton Center, adorned with giant glittering balls, brightens up Sainte-Catherine Street.
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He likes to lead the groups in the embellished streets of the city, when it is cold. “It’s entertaining, we freeze, we experience winter and we leave the house,” he says. Visits also allow us to discover our own history during the holiday season. In Old Montreal, for example, I explain a little about the difficulties that Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve and Jeanne Mance had in settling down. It wasn’t easy, everyone was dying of scurvy. At the beginning of colonization, Christmas was not at all a holiday of rejoicing. What did we eat then? Turkey is not very French. At the same time, Christmas served as a pretext to evangelize the First Nations. I try to explain all of this and put it into context. »
The story of the Christmas tree
Along the various routes, splendidly decorated fir trees will serve as an excuse to recall the history of this symbol. “Even before Christianity, the fir tree has always been considered a fir tree of eternal light in Germanic and other countries, especially in Europe, recalls the urban storyteller. It was not chosen in a casual way. »
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
The richly decorated giant Christmas tree in the heart of Place Montréal Trust is a real eye-catcher.
Different settings will allow you to approach in particular the pagan roots of the Christmas celebration, the origins of Santa Claus, as well as the beginnings in Montreal of the famous Santa Claus parade. Guided tours downtown will go to the McCord Stewart Museum to admire, outside, the famous mechanical showcase of the Ogilvy House, The enchanted villagewhich has fascinated young and old since 1947.
PHOTO CHARLES WILLIAM PELLETIER, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
The famous mechanical showcase of Maison Ogilvy, The enchanted villagecontinues to fascinate young and old outside the McCord Stewart Museum.
Tours are designed for adults, but children are welcome. It’s also free for those 12 and under. A one-hour videoconference entitled If Christmas was told to mewill also be presented twice, on December 20 and 22.
“A virtual component was added during the pandemic, specifies Yvan Drouin. It is complementary to the guided tours. I explore the history and traditions of Christmas by presenting images and videos. But a conference in the comfort of your home is a little more intellectual than a guided tour, which appeals to the senses. »
Those who choose to brave the cold want to feel something, he notes. It is a pleasure for this Christmas enthusiast to accompany them.