Bits of Toronto - Tomorrow, Nov 17th, marks the 109th annual Santa Claus parade in Toronto. The first parade was on Dec 2/1905. It consisted of Santa Claus & the Eaton family. They met Santa at the old Union Station, west of York Street, where they then walked to the Eatons store at Queen & Yonge Street. Later parades would see Santa arrive on horseback, in a silver fish float, horse drawn carriage & a float with eight reindeers & sleigh. As the years past more floats were added, many with nursery rhyme characters. Marching bands were a major part of the parade & it became one of the largest in North America. It was the start of Christmas in the city & associated with it were the magical Christmas windows of Eatons & Simpsons. The old Eatons building on Yonge Street was were my Mom would take my brother & I to see Santa. If you would like a humorous sense of what a visit to Santa was like around those times please watch the movie A Christmas Story. Ralphie & his brother remind me of my brother & myself but I never had Santa say to me Youll shoot your eye out. kid The Eatons Santa Claus Parade was discontinued in 1982 but the parade itself was continued with the grateful help of numerous Toronto firms. To them we owe a big thanks for the ongoing happiness that this parade brings to children, both young & old.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 18:40:44 +0000
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