My first Christmas in Victoria

By trudy chiswell

It was 2014, my first Christmas in Victoria. My first year away from family and friends and I expected to be lonely. When January 3 arrived I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I hadn’t been lonely at all and in fact had had a most enjoyable Christmas Season. I have chosen to live life intentionally and so I approached Christmas that year with the same attitude. I chose to become an active participant in the city around me. 

Victoria is a beautiful city and no more beautiful than at Christmas with all the sparkling lights. Coming home on the bus at the end of November I noticed the government buildings lit up in the daytime.  Strange! Later that night my query was answered when I could see from my balcony, the government buildings ablaze in colored lights. Next day I noticed a big white tent in front of the Empress Hotel. Puzzled again! This turned out to be a new skating rink. Being from Ontario, where cold weather encourages skating rinks, this was not what I expected in the Victoria with winter garden flowers.

I served at a High Tea and bake sale at my church: all lace, fancy sandwiches and home baking. Great combination! I love the acronym of my church: COOL Church Of Our Lord. I tell everyone I go to the COOL church! After being on my feet for a long afternoon of serving at the event, I thought I was too tired to go to the Truck Parade that same night. To my surprise, when searching online I discovered the Truck Parade went right past my apartment. You guessed it! I threw on my coat over my PJ’s, slipped into my shoes, bundled up in my hat and scarf and went out to join the throng. Just like the children, I cheered the gaily decorated trucks beeping Jingle Bells as they streamed by the building. Pictures from my balcony on the 10^th floor were unique and sent back to my truck loving grandson in Florida.

Another Saturday afternoon, I went downtown intent on going to Market Square for the Tuba Concert. As I strolled down Government Street I enjoyed the Christmas carollers on the corner, browsed the Pop-Up Market along the street on my way to Market Square. I wondered what this Tuba Concert would be like. It was wonderful to see Market Square packed all around the balcony, Christmas music wafting up from the courtyard below. 85 Tuba players from across the Island and Lower Mainland played as if they had been together for years - amazing! After snapping many pictures and enjoying the music, I carried on with my strolling around town. At Bastion Square I saw the stop for the free horse-drawn trolley rides being offered by the downtown Business Association. I hopped on and thoroughly enjoyed a ride around town in the open trolley. I was fortunate enough to be on the last trolley ride of the day and got a ride all the way home as they went back to their trailer at Ogden Point, just down the street from my apartment. It was a lovely afternoon enjoying my new city home.

Two weeks before Christmas my friend came over from the mainland to stay with me for five days. We became tourists in Victoria.  Walking down to the Inner Harbor we enjoyed the government buildings all dressed out in the finery of twinkling lights. More pictures! Walking down Government Street the lights were magical as we walked past the skating rink and into the Empress Hotel. We strolled past the wonderful display of decorated trees from the different businesses of Victoria. The contest was in full swing for the best tree. What a lovely old building the Empress is! As we were not in a hurry, we also enjoyed shopping in the city as Christmas shoppers scurried around to find that perfect gift. Not having a list to fill, we could just enjoy the busyness of the holiday without being part of the craziness. A unique perspective!

Craigdarroch Castle at night looks rather spooky with the lights shining up the exterior. We went one night for a special tour of the castle and a viewing of the movie Little Women. Some of the scenes in the movie were filmed right there in the castle on Joan Crescent. The Historical Society has done an marvelous job restoring some of the rooms to period times of the 1890s when the castle was originally built. The movie was shown in the ballroom on the fourth floor and I couldn’t help speculating how the ladies of that time climbed the four flights in big hooped skirts. The view of Victoria from the widow’s walk room was awesome.

Of course it wouldn’t be Christmas without a visit to Butchart Gardens at night to see the Christmas lights. The Twelve Days of Christmas were portrayed in lights throughout the garden. Joined by another friend, we would sing the song as we came to each display and had much fun. We even went on the merry-go-round for a ride at our age. You have to be a little silly some times in life. Dinner at the Gardens finished off the evening.

The next day it was back to the mainland on the ferry to spend the week before Christmas at my friend’s daughter’s home. With four children in the house everything was about Christmas as excited little people were all about family traditions. There was the children’s Christmas pageant to see, visiting friends and Christmas Eve midnight service. Extended family gathering on the day for little gift exchanges, a big Christmas morning breakfast and the Christmas dinner later all meant we all had a wonderful day. The family keeps traditions that focus on the meaning of Christmas instead of the materialism that marketing tries to push on us. I was made a part of this little family’s Christmas and not just a guest. Special!

After getting back to Victoria, I continued my celebrations. Off I went to Barb and Ralph’s on New Year’s Eve to stay overnight for a big New Year’s Day family turkey dinner. It was a surprise when my friend informed me that I was staying over a second night as we were invited to another old friend’s for dinner January 2^nd.

For someone who expected to be lonely during the Christmas Season, I had a spectacular two weeks of celebrating. It was one of my most memorable since I became a solo traveler of life. While I missed my family, I had chosen to live life intentionally and focus on the positive aspects of the world around me. Much better than wallowing in loneliness. It was a perfect Christmas!