The Spirit Of Christmas Past 2023

The Spirit of
Christmas Past

Metaphysical Mojo is pleased to present, Our FOURTH YEAR of

The Spirit of Christmas Past . During the months of November and December, we will be sharing local stories, recipes, Christmas crafts, games, Christmas trivia and much more. We encourage all to share this page with others so they can experience the magic, wonder, and childhood memories of the holiday season.

Bright Blessings to you and your family.

Bruce the Moose

Bruce the Moose: A Canadian Icon Disappears.

Written by: Johnathon Boyd

It was a sad day in December 1984. A Canadian Icon in most malls and shopping centers disappeared without a goodbye. I used to live for christmas and running to the Quinte mall to see...Bruce the moose!! He was MASSIVE. it is a happy memory of the first time years ago that i came to know bruce the moose. I had never seen anything like that. A twenty foot tall moose, that moved and sang to music. it was loud when things clicked and moved, but what a sight!

I remember that the show would last about twenty minutes. bruce would come to life, tap his hoof, play a piano, sing, blink his eyes, move his eye-brows and turn his head. during the show, bruce would be joined by his friend Chestnut, a Squirrel that lived in a log in the scenery. They would sing a song and finish the performance together.

The show centered around the true meaning of Christmas and to be caring, sharing and loving to your family. There were three songs, only two i can remember: (Guess Who) it's bruce the moose and That's christmas,C-H-r-i-S-T-M-A-S! Every child who sat on Santa's knee, would get a set of bruce the Moose moose Antlers, a bruce the moose colouring book, and a candy cane.

around December 1984....Bruce the moose was no more. I felt like a piece of my childhood was ripped away. i was hoping he would return someday...and that dream is still alive. i stay positive that he is stored away, under a dusty tarp, in a warehouse in belleville, ontario...waiting to be rescued. BRING BACK BRUCE THE MOOSE !!

Thank you to The simpson blog, for the use of pictures.

for more information on bruce the Moose, please click Here.

Bright blessings

Bruce the Moose from various malls across ontario. the one at the Quinte mall in Belleville, Ontario looked Like the Bruce from picture three, with the piano from picture 1.

THE BELLEVILLE

SANTA CLAUS PARADE

The Belleville Santa Claus Parade, No Replacement For The Original.

Written by: Johnathon Boyd

I am a sucker for the original. If it isn't broken don't try to improve or fix it. I was happy as a child in the 1970's to stand outside and watch a Parade, not a loud bunch of music to cover the generators, on a cold night in November. Give me the ORIGINAL Belleville Santa Claus Parade !! You remember the old parades through downtown, great floats, lots of bands from all over Ontario, and it was during the daytime. It was always the last Saturday in November and usually the same day as the Eaton's Santa Claus Parade in Toronto. The old parade route would start at the Fairgrounds, go north on Sidney St., turn right on to West Moira, Turn right on to Pinnacle, turn right onto Front St., then either to Meyers Pier or back to Fairgrounds. I believe that was the old route for many years.

Parade weekend was great as a child! You were always guaranteed to have a ton of snow.

We would get bundled up in our snowsuits, pack into the car, and head out for 9:30 am. The parade would start around 10:30 am. It was a great anticipation to see some of your favourite floats: The Shriners Camel Herder's, Blinky the Police Car, The Vintage Fire Engines, The Flinstones Car with Fred and Wilma, The Upside-down clowns and the Foster Clown Troupe with all the crazy bikes, go carts, and train...just a lot of fun.

There were candy canes and holiday treats handed out by the parade participants as they passed by the big crowds. The Canadian Postal carriers would collect letters to Santa from the kids along the parade route. Then the big moment arrived...in all his glory...there he was...life sized...SANTA CLAUS !! The crowds would all head into the downtown stores to grab hot chocolate or something warm.

It was time to head to the Quinte Mall to see Santa Claus arrive in a helicopter !! What a sight. Then indoors to see Bruce The Moose and wait in line to tell Santa what you would like for Christmas. You leave happy that you talked to the man himself, had a pair of Bruce The Moose antlers, a colouring book and yet another candy cane. Just enough time to rush home and catch the Eaton's Santa Claus Parade on television.

What more could a kid ask for ??

As the years went by, everything had to be re-vamped.There were problems with turns, electrical wires, etc. and the route changed many times. Then the parade was re-launched to a lighted offering at night. I, myself, liked the old parade, in the daytime, and later in November. You lose a bit of the magic, when all you hear is generators running. It is much colder at night, not really made for younger kids who get cold fast and up past their bed time. Today's parade isn't as long and the floats aren't anything like they used to be.

As I said earlier, I'm a sucker for the original.