The Twelve Days of Christmas, Canmore-style
by Jennifer Groundwater
With apologies to the person who first penned The Twelve Days of Christmas, here is a local adaptation of the familiar carol. If you can fit in all twelve of these seasonal local favourites, you are well on your way to enjoying the finest Christmas Canmore has to offer.
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The Twelve Days of Christmas
Twelve drummers drumming
Eleven pipers piping
Ten lords a-leaping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
Five golden rings
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
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The Twelve Days of Canmore
Twelve dreamers dreaming
Eleven choirs singing
Ten Nordic ski kings
Nine flakes a-dancing
Eight dogs a-dashing
Seven prawns a-swimming
Six kids a-playing
Five cold rinks
Four elk herds
Three Sisters
Two purple gloves
And a car trip to get your own tree!
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A car trip to get your own tree
Of course, you can just pull out your wallet and purchase a lovely tree in Canmore. But one of the most fun local Christmas traditions is to pack the family in the car and head for the hills to select your very own tree. All it takes is a $5 permit, available at the Provincial Building. Each year a different area is used for the tree harvest, so there's always lots of choice, from skinny Charlie Brown types to fat bushy specimens. Bundle up, branch out (pun intended), and bring home whatever your family fancies.
Take your family on "a car ride to find your own tree" in nearby
Kananaskis Country, where you will find picture postcard beauty
everywhere.
Two Purple Gloves
Or any other colour you can think of. Shopping in Canmore at Christmas time is a rare pleasure. You can find something to please everyone on your list, whether they yearn for cozy gloves, an ice axe, or homemade soaps. Plus you can shop at your leisure and get friendly, one-on-one service.
Three Sisters
Our signature peaks are visible from almost everywhere in Canmore. Draped in their snowy winter finery, they offer a stunning backdrop for seasonal festivities and activities. Be sure to admire them glowing golden pink at sunrise, or by the light of the full moon on Boxing Day.
A mother and young elk - just a few of the members of the
"four elk herds" in the 12 Days of Canmore - forage in the snow
near Canmore.
Four Elk Herds
A short walk around Canmore will reveal an abundance of elk droppings, but the animals may seem elusive. Try a walk around the SilverTip golf course, Quarry Lake, Cemetery Hill or Cougar Creek to see if you can track down the local herds. (If you do find them, be sure to watch from a safe distance, to protect them and yourselves.)
Five Cold Rinks
Outdoor skating is a special Canadian Rockies treat. Rent skates here in Canmore, then head out to find adventure on a frozen lake or river. The experience of gliding along on transparent natural ice can't be matched. Try Vermilion Lakes or Johnson's Lake in Banff for the ultimate natural skating rink (you may want to bring a shovel if it's snowed recently.) If you prefer a more maintained ice surface, head to the rink below Bow Falls in Banff or to Lake Louise with its majestic backdrop of the Victoria Glacier. Or stay right here in Canmore and visit Tenth Street Pond for some glossy hometown ice.
Here's one of the "six kids a-playing" on
one of the "five cold rinks" during the 12 Days of Canmore.
Six Kids A-Playing
Christmas in Canmore is all about family. So dress warmly and get out to toboggan, build snowmen, make snow angels, or simply go for a walk with your little ones. You'll make memories of outdoor fun that you and your kids can share forever.
Seven Prawns a-Brimming
Prawns bathed in garlic butter may not be your traditional Christmas fare, but hey, you can't eat turkey for 12 whole days! Canmore's restaurants are waiting to indulge your passion for superb food this holiday season. Don't let them down.
Eight Dogs a-Dashing
Christmas is the perfect time to take the family on a dogsled adventure. The snow is fresh, the air is brisk, and the scenery is magnificent. Not much can compare to the experience of being whisked through the snowy woods by a team of friendly, eager dogs, who are having as much fun as you are.
Nine (Zillion) Flakes a-Dancing
Snowflakes, that is. The white stuff is an essential part of Christmas fun in the mountains, especially when it falls in great quantities at our beloved ski resorts. There is nothing better than a powder day at Sunshine. Unless it's a powder day at Lake Louise. Or Norquay. Or Nakiska. A great big snowfall is the best Christmas gift of all.
Ten Nordic Ski Kings
Ahem, and queens. Canmore has more than its share of world-class cross-country skiers, though we can't all be lycra-clad future Olympians speeding around the Canmore Nordic Centre. The good news is the Nordic Centre's beautifully groomed - and very affordable - trails are open to even the most casual recreational skier. Beginners can rent skis and take a lesson before heading out onto the trails.
Eleven Choirs Singing
It's not always about the great outdoors here - Canmore has a vibrant cultural and musical community. Check out one of the Christmas concerts taking place during the month of December, or drop into a local church on Christmas Eve to sing a few carols. Whether you're devout or not, the sweet sound of seasonal music can still fill you with joy.
Twelve Dreamers Dreaming
What else would you be dreaming of, but another Christmas in Canmore? We're sure there are more than 12 of you with that very dream. May all your Christmas dreams come true this year.
Jennifer Groundwater is a Canmore-based freelance writer who has been humming "The Twelve Days of Christmas" for more hours now than she cares to admit.
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