1.4 million lights in suicide season. Need I say more?
Written by: Julie Ovenell-CarterBy the time I discovered the Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, BC, the ruts of my family’s holiday traditions were already deep and worn.
(My mother warned me early: “Be very careful what you do with little kids around the holidays. You only have to do something once for it instantly to be considered a tradition.”)
So the news in 2005 that I’d won a family pass to this annual garden fundraiser was met with profound indifference by my two teens. It wasn’t part of our family’s established holiday routines and was, therefore, suspect. Seen one twinkling tree, seen them all apparently.
Long story short: 1.4 million lights in suicide season. Need I say more?
Ok, well how about: Santa Claus and Christmas gnomes; light pageants and puppet shows; candy canes and carolling. And this year, something new called the Sparkling Spruce that lets you build-your-own dancing light show.
Now I go every year–and when my own kids aren’t available, I borrow some littler ones.
If you’re lucky enough to still be building your stock of holiday traditions, don’t think twice about adding the Festival of Lights to your repertoire. And if you’re starting to exhibit Scrooge-like tendencies (aka, seasonal affective disorder), this is surely the cure for what ails you.
The Festival of Lights runs every night from Dec. 11 to Jan. 3, except Christmas. Skip the line-ups and get your tickets in advance from TicketsTonight.
Want to win four tickets?
I’ve got four passes to give away to opening night, Friday, Dec. 11–just leave a comment sharing one of your own much-loved holiday traditions.
(Hint: share this post on Twitter using the little “share this” button over there on the right for a second chance to win.)
I’ll do a random draw on Sunday, December 6 at 8 pm PST.
Update Dec. 7: And the winner is…Toni Leverett and family! Check your email Toni…
Dilara
on November 21st, 2009I grew up in Rome and one of my favorite memories of our holiday traditions is going to St. Peter’s Basilica to look at the life-sized nativity and the lighting of the giant Christmas tree. Everyone would stand in a huge circle around it, hold hands and sing carols. We did this every single year from as far back as I can remember till I turned 13 and we moved to NYC.
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on November 21st, 2009That is something I would love to see one day Dilara. I once got to go to a first-Sunday-of-Advent carol service at King’s College in Cambridge–a truly memorable experience and something I wish I could experience every year. Actually, if anyone knows of any outstanding carol services in Vancouver, I’d love to know about them…
Natasha
on November 22nd, 2009I have so many wonderful traditions. We haven’t tried Vanduessen yet but my Mother In Law goes with her mother. I would love to add it to our traditions.
Some of our traditions include Stanley Park Train with my in-laws. We also enjoy driving around looking at local lights while drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies! We also go to the Candlelight Parade in Mission BC as it’s where I grew up.
Michelle
on November 22nd, 2009My favourite Christmas tradition is going to the tree farm with the family and picking the perfect tree. Then having apple cider next to fire. Afterwards is when we come home and decorate and get everything ready for Christmas
Kalpna Solanki
on November 22nd, 2009One of my favourite things to do is to go see the Festival of Lights at Van Dusen – amazing setup, and just beautiful. Great for all ages!
Kalpna Solanki
on November 22nd, 2009Every Christmas without fail – Nutcraker, Bright Nights at Stanley Park, Merry Christmas Charlie Brown, It’s a Wonderful Life, Scrooge.
Sue Barr
on November 23rd, 2009When we lived in the West Chilcotin, Christmas was ‘just us’, no stores, no store Santas, etc. When our older son became truly aware of Santa Claus and his reindeer, my husband climbed up onto our snow-laden roof of our self-built log home and scattered some hay around our chimney. Christmas morning we took our son outside to show him the trampled snow around the chimney and the hay on the roof, proving that Santa had indeed visited during the night. Our son was absolutely certain that he had heard the reindeer on the roof. It was a lovely Christmas.
Now this same son has become engaged to be married. We would dearly love to treat him and his fiancee to a magical evening at the van Dusen “Festival of Lights” (which used to be the original Shaughnessy golf course, btw!)
Murray Atherton
on November 23rd, 2009For years we ventured out to the Fraser Valley to the Drideger’s Christmas Tree Farm to get the PERFECT tree. Last year we found we could purchase their trees, here on Bowen, from the Ruddy! !!POOF goes another tradition!
Sam
on November 23rd, 2009Too many to pick a favourite! Starting with solstice making tin and paper lanterns; making paper-chains with all the junk mail that accumulates over the year; making, constructing and decorating a gingerbread “house”; taking out the army of nutcrackers that have lain silent in the pump room all year and placing them up the stairs; decorating the house with greens from wind-falls; baking, baking and more baking… now I’m getting into the spirit already. … never see these lights, sometimes do a drive around Vancouver neighbourhoods to admire people’s displays…
Teresa
on November 25th, 2009HOLIDAY TRADITION
Every year, my father roasts chestnuts for the whole family. We eat them together with hot apple cider. Delicious!
Lynn
on November 25th, 2009I really don’t enjoy doing the same things every Christmas or making the same foods simply because it’s “tradition”. It took my husband and I a long time to find common ground on this since he loves his traditions and I find them tedious. Finally, we agreed to relax our expectations and accommodate one another with the traditions that matter the most. For my husband, it means ushering Christmas in with Alistair Sims’ “Scrooge” knowing I can’t stand to see it yet one more time (but I sit through it anyway). For myself, it means cooking a simple meal Christmas day so I’m not a slave to the kitchen while everyone else is having fun in the living room. My husband knows he will have the big meal on Boxing Day and wisely doesn’t complain. For our kids, it means they will grow up with a quirky set of traditions that they can pass along to their kids…or not!
Monica
on November 26th, 2009I love the holiday season, and look forward to making cookie cottages (aka graham cracker gingerbread houses) with my elementary school students each year. Sharing in their joy and excitement as they construct and decorate their sugary little cottages brings out the kid in me!
Erica
on December 4th, 2009HOLIDAY TRADITION
Neil cooks a lot. I eat a lot.
Lyn
on December 5th, 2009Every year on or about the 21st of December our family walks to a special location to choose a wild tree for our home. I always want a big tree, my husband always wants a small one and our (now grown) children and grandchildren always side with me. The ensuing conversation can become quite heated. Invariably we end up choosing the first tree that my husband suggested and it just barely fits into the living room. This traditional argument is really not orchestrated. In fact, we have often made an agreement not to have it “this year”. But, every year it happens and every year we laugh at the out come.
Toni
on December 5th, 2009Of course there is watching the Charlie Brown Christmas on tv or dvd and speaking along with Linus’ monologue. We also love the homemade nuts and bolts made by the grandparents, and arguing about how much tinsel goes on the tree. The kids have some notion (not inherited from me, for sure) that no tinsel is needed, and I say lots is needed placed strand by strand by hand. I always win because I end up adding extra myself when everyone is gone.
Suzan
on December 5th, 2009Every year my daughter and I spend hours choosing the perfect Charlie Brown tree. It always ends up being the one we think needs a home because no one else would want it. We unpack the decorations and marvel over the stories that surround each one. When the tree is finished a little bit of magic settles over our living room that last until the needles begin to drop. Every year we say, “this is the most beautiful tree we’ve ever had!”.
Toni Leverett
on December 7th, 2009Thanks, Julie! We look forward to seeing the lights! This will be a first for our family, and it’s a great opportunity to take the emphasis off of the gifts.
The frosty weather will be the added bonus!