In Winnipeg At Christmas

Although we’re all adults now, one of my family’s favourite Christmas albums is Fred Penner’s “The Season”, a wonderful collection of multilingual traditional and world holiday songs, featuring many different Manitoban choruses and musical ensembles.  Also on the album is a recitation of “In Winnipeg At Christmas”, a lovely poem written by the English writer Rose Fyleman, and it’s the perfect thing to share with you today (even it’s not a particularly white Christmas this year!).

In Winnipeg at Christmas there’s lots and lots of snow,
Very clean, and crisp and hard
And glittering like a Christmas card
Everywhere you go;
Snow upon the housetops, snow along the street,
And Queen Victoria in her chair
Has snow upon her snowy hair
And snow upon her feet.

In Winnipeg at Christmas they line the streets with trees-
Christmas trees lit up at night
With little balls of coloured light
As pretty as you please.
The people hurry past you in furry boots and wraps;
The sleighs are like a picture book,
And all the policemen look
Like Teddy Bears in caps.

And oh! The smiling ladies and jolly girls and boys;
And oh! The parties and the fun
With lovely things for everyone-
Books and sweets and toys.
So, if someday at Christmas you don’t know where to go,
Just pack your bags I beg,
And start at once for Winnipeg;
You’ll like it there I know.

Source: River Gate Inn via Wayback Machine

For an interesting look at the poem and its author, check out this audio clip from CBC Radio.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!