The great event of the day was still before them-
the Christmas dinner.....The usual hour for dinner was 4 o'clock. All being assembled at the table, thanks was given. The viands were all the product of the country: turkey, beef, assorted game, all the best of their kind; good humour, mirth, jollity, were the order of the day. After the solids were removed, came desserts such as: pies, puddings, custards, nuts, apples, and other good things, with Port, Sherry and Madeira.
Later in the century it was more fashionable for the affluent to dine out at Christmas. Leading hotels prepared elaborate menus that would be reviewed in the newspaper. The costs were seldom mentioned, and paid advertising was rare.

The menu from the Royal Hotel, Saint John, for a 1901 Christmas dinner typical of leading hotels in the Maritimes at the end of the Victorian era.

• Green Sea Turtle Soup. Oyster Soup.
  
• Salted Almonds. Caviar. Olives.
  
• Almon tillado Sherry. Sauterne. Champagne. Burgundy.
  
• Boiled Chicken. Halibut. Hollandaise Sauce.
  
• Fresh Lobster Cutlets. Potato crocquettes. Sliced Cucumbers.
  
• Escalloped Oysters. Moose Cutlets, Sauce a la Chasseur.
  
• Peach Fritters. Still Hock.
  
• Boiled Turkey. Walnut Dressing. Boiled Sugar Cured Ham. Roast Christmas Beef, Yorkshire Pudding.
  
• Roast Saddle of Mutton, Red Currant Jelly.
  
• Roast Green Goose, Apple Sauce.
  
• Shrimp Salad. Lettuce Salad. Salad d' Anchoiv.
  
• Roast Loin of Vension, Sherry Sauce.
  
• Roast Black Duck, Black Currant Jelly.

• Roast Grey Teal, a la Farcie
  Quail on Toast aux Truffles
  Christmas Punch
  
• Mashed Potatoes
  French Green Peas
  Brussels Sprouts with Cream
  French Asparagus
  
• Celery and Cheese
  Port
  
• English Plum Pudding
  Hard and Brandy Sauces
  Snow Pudding, soft custard
  Hot Mince Pie
  Apple Pie, Pineapple Jelly
  Berncasteler Doctor Jelly
  Sherry
  
• Fruit. Confectionery Benedictine Ice Cream
  
• Cafe. Liqueurs.

  This unique, though rough, poetical presentation from a Fredericton restaurant gives a sample of the range of food one could expect in 1894:

  Christmas comes once a year
  and with it comes good cheer.
  If you for a nice Christmas dinner would enjoy then for Lindsay's restaurant you had better inquire.
  Just call in and view the bill of fare,
  All kinds of delicacies are there.
  For soup, Oyster, Chicken you can get
  No place in town can you get better.
  For entrees, Scrambled eggs and
  kidney saute' on toast
  Then you can have your choice of roast.
  The Roast goose and apple sauce will be a treat
  Turkey and dressing with cranberry sauce
  a pleasure to eat.
  Then a piece of mince pie you'd better try
  I know that you it will satisfy.
  No don't forget the English plum pudding too,
  With Brandy sauce that will please you.
  Lindsay as a host you'll see
  will treat you with civility,
  So don't forget on him to call
  A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
  he wishes all.

  Those in institutions were treated to Christmas dinners as fine as Lindsay served to his restaurant clientele, and usually received a gift of the season to raise their spirits if they were orphaned, sick, or far from home, such as the seamen who frequented the area in the days of wooden ships. For the most part the charitable treat would be distributed on the 25th, not before like it is in modern times. On December 28th 1887 the Halifax Morning Chronicle reported on visits that were made to the Protetant Industrial School, St. Patrick's Orphan Home, The Sailor's Home, The Blind Asylum, St. Paul's Alms House, and the poor home at Rockhead.

  There was plenty of "liquid refreshment" at both indoor and outdoor gatherings over Christmas. Halifax, with its many seamen on the streets had a greater problem with public drinking than most maritime cities did. Just after Christmas Day in 1886, the Morning Chronicle reported at great length on the misadventures of two "grog drinkers" who had spent the day in the tavern and had missed the sailing of their ship, and leaped into the icy water of Halifax harbour. They tried to overtake their ship by swimming. They were not successful and had to be fished out. This same paper lamented over the fact that the bar rooms and churches drew as many visitors as the other and both were open on Christmas Day.
  
  
  
  

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