As Canadians we are lucky to celebrate a variety of traditions during the Holiday season, each of them bringing a special spice to this special time of year. Réveillon is a tradition found in French-speaking culture. Family members and friends gather for a long dinner, often lasting many hours into the late evening, indulging in treats specially prepared for the occasion and sharing moments with unseen relatives. The term, Réveillon, comes from the word réveil which translates as ‘waking’. It refers to the long evening that stretches into the wee hours of the morning. Children often surrender to exhaustion and a full belly, ending up napping on grandma’s couch or spare bed until midnight, when they reawaken and are finally allowed to unwrap the mountain of gifts piled under the illuminated tree. It's truly a magical scene! “Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.”― Peg Bracken |
The mainstream-Canadian tradition is often associated with a 'réveillon-type' of evening preceded by a fulfilling day of winter activities. Bundled up in multiple layers to face the frigid weather, children head outdoors to play in the winter snow, building snow-forts, digging caves, snowshoeing, ice skating & cross-country skiing using their cousin’s oversized equipment until they no longer feel their fingers & toes and hurry inside to warm up to a hot cup of cocoa. Many of us look back at our own childhood memories of these traditions with fondness. We believe that the time spent outside with family & friends, in addition to sharing food & memories is what made that day so special. That feeling of walking into a warm cozy home filled with the aroma of the wood-burning fire and homemade food after an exhausting day spent outdoors is so overwhelmingly satisfying. |
“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.” ― Laura Ingalls Wilder | While relishing the nostalgia of our childhood memories, here at Callaghan Country, we can't help but notice the similarities of these Holiday traditions and the experiences found at Callaghan Country's Journeyman Lodge. A visit to Journeyman lodge embodies 'the perfect day' of the festive season; a long day spent outside and coming home to a hot drink by the fire followed by a belly-stretching family-style dinner. After all, we are a family-run business with a long tradition of sharing memories in the utmost winter setting. Just like any business, we are nothing without our guests but here at Callaghan, we consider our guests as family and we are proud to offer the genuine care you deserve. This Holiday Season, we really hope we can share this special time with you and create memories that will last a lifetime. Our gift to you is that special attention we deliver from the moment you step in the door. Your gift to us is your continued loyalty. Our patrons have supported this endeavour for over 20 years (30 years since inception) of operation, we could not be more grateful and want to extend our biggest THANK YOU! This Holiday, treat yourself and your loved ones to the gift of memories and you can be sure to find them here in our winter wonderland. |
Happy Holidays to all of our Family!