Holiday Traditions

Originally published by The Lookout Newspaper, on 12 December 2022, this article is reproduced here in its unedited state.

The holiday season is a special time in an HMC ship or base. Seasonal decorations have been popular for decades and include traditions such as the raising of an evergreen up a ship’s yardarm or festooning the upper decks with pine boughs and coloured lights. In modern times there is often a competition to see which ship has the best decorations.

In the distant past, the sailors’ Christmas celebrations were something akin to an orgy of debauchery, and the ship’s officers were advised to stay clear. Throughout the years the celebration changed to be more of a day of relaxed routine, pranks, and frivolity. In the present form, a ship’s company’s holiday celebration includes a tradition where the youngest sailor changes places with the Commanding Officer for the day. They may even exchange tunics in a distant throwback to the ancient Roman custom of exchanging clothes and duties during Saturnalia. The honorary Commanding Officer for the day is often allowed to inspect the ship and issue orders, usually done in a lighthearted way. The celebration is capped by a lavish holiday feast, consisting of turkey with all the trimmings, wine, plenty of side dishes, and a helping of duff, traditionally a Christmas pudding. For the sailors, the best part of the dinner is that it is served by the officers, done so as a thank you for the hard work and accomplishments of the previous twelve months.

The holiday season can be a quiet moment for HMC ships as there tends to be a leave period scheduled at that time. However, for the ships in the HMC dockyard there is a tradition that occurs at midnight on New Years Eve when the youngest member, sailor or officer, is tasked to ring the bell eight times for the outgoing year and eight times for the New Year. Bells ringing up and down the dockyard are often accompanied by ships’ horns sounding off in celebration.

In the morning on New Year’s Day, a tradition practiced in Canada is for the Governor-General, Lieutenant-Governors, municipal authorities, Legions and military establishments to host a Levee. The concept of a Levee is derived from the French King Louis XIV who would receive his subjects upon rising in the morning. The word Levee is derived from the Latin word ‘levare’- to rise. It was Canadians who began to associate a Levee with the holiday season when fur traders came to pay their respects to the master of the fort on New Years Day.

New Year’s Levee is a time for visiting, and to toast the new year at other military units, the offices of local officials and at Legions. Amongst good food, beverages are shared, with nothing being more traditional than a cup of “Moose Milk.” The recipe of this creamy punch changes depending on the military formation, but there are almost always spirits included. In navy units, the basic ingredients are rum mixed with vanilla ice cream. Specific recipes may be closely guarded secrets, and might also include Kahlua, Bailey’s Irish Cream, and nutmeg or cinnamon for taste. Moose Milk can be a delightful concoction but debilitating if too much is consumed. Have a safe and happy New Year!

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