A century ago, the Christmas season arrived as our community — like most of the world, for that matter — was still reeling from the devastating impact of the Great War.
People in 1921 Victoria still found a way to celebrate the season, and to help each other.
Today, as the humbling disruption caused by the global pandemic continues, we celebrate again, even as we see the fragility of everything that we had taken for granted.
Just like our ancestors did a century ago.
William Lyon Mackenzie King became prime minister that week, and B.C.’s drivers were getting ready to start driving on the right side on New Year’s Day — but Christmas seemed to be on everyone’s minds, despite the hard times.
In its Christmas editorial, the Victoria Daily Times noted that “the clouds of general economic reaction, and in some places, of revolt, bloodshed, starvation and incalculable misery” were still being felt around the globe.
Locally, there was a spirit of giving. Local hospitals held special dinners and concerts for their patients.
A dinner for unemployed men, sponsored by trade unions, was held at the Trades Hall, 1318 Broad St., on Christmas Day. The menu included chicken soup, fish, turkey, vegetables, English plum pudding cake, mince pie, Christmas cake, crackers, nuts and raisins, as well as cigars and cigarettes.
About 140 men attended the dinner. All food left over was distributed to the men.
Rest of the editorial here:
