From Holidays to Coins, Discover Our Traditions
- Dec 01, 2022
- Celebrate
- 3 minute read
Homes and streets gleam in colourful lights as children eagerly wait for that first snowflake. The sound of uplifting carols and the smell of freshly baked gingerbread fill our senses with joy and happiness. The holidays are magical, and over the centuries, Canadians have filled the season with rich and diverse traditions, both old and new.
Homes and streets gleam in colourful lights as children eagerly wait for that first snowflake. The sound of uplifting carols and the smell of freshly baked gingerbread fill our senses with joy and happiness. The holidays are magical, and over the centuries, Canadians have filled the season with rich and diverse traditions, both old and new.
Here at the Mint, and similar to the busy elves seen on this year’s holiday lenticular coin, employees worked hard all year to bring you this year’s collection. The production of annual favourites like our signature silver proof dollar, our specimen set (the world’s only set with a specimen finish!) and the classic uncirculated set traditionally arrive at the start of every new year. However, our workshop is busy striking, inspecting and packaging these coins that will be shared with loved ones this holiday season.
Santa Claus, arguably one of the season’s most famous characters, first came to the Americas in the 19th century. While celebrated as a secular figure in our modern times, it is widely believed that earlier gift-givers like Christkind and the fourth-century patron Saint Nicholas, who are loved and revered for their generosity, were models for today's Santa Claus.
Should you choose to embody the generous gift-giving spirit of the holiday season, a gift of gold or silver is a tradition as old as time. Or, put a twist on writing the traditional holiday card with a gift that is also a card!
Just like Saint Nick seen checking his list on this movement coin, when it comes to planning and deciding on themes for commemorative coins like those issued for the great Oscar Peterson, the visionary Alexander Graham Bell and the talented Canadians who competed in the 1972 Summit Series, our work begins years in advance. Lists of themes and ideas are checked not once or twice, but multiple times. In fact, we’re already looking ahead and deciding on which themes will decorate the years 2024, 2025 and beyond!
Our holiday traditions are continuously changing, from winter festivals and new year celebrations to mystery stocking stuffers. Whichever special occasion or tradition you celebrate this holiday season, we hope it is in the company of family and friends and filled with merriment.
