Christmas and New Year’s celebrations were important for many Métis families and communities. Unsurprisingly, many shared and well-loved Métis holiday traditions exist across the Homeland.
One such annual tradition was Métis Christmas kissing, which was particularly well-loved in the Métis community at Sault Ste. Marie.
In 1951, settler Christy Ann Simons recorded her memoirs about her life growing up in the Upper Great Lakes during the late 1800s, in which the vibrant regional Métis community featured prominently.
Among her many colourful stories about Métis or “half-breed” individuals and families, Simons writes about an incident at the home of the well-known Métis Solomon family over Christmas:
“Two white men entered the Solomon home. It happened to be Christmas Day. The women of the household greeted the visitors with a kiss. One man accepted, the other refused. The women were hurt by the refusal. It transpired that it was then the custom of the natives to each greet the other with a kiss on Christmas Day, and it was considered almost an insult to refuse. Other white people who were told of the occurrence told this white man he should not have refused and perhaps made enemies."
While it is unknown whether the man made an enemy of the Métis community for refusing the Christmas kiss, the incident highlights the strength and importance of this time-honoured holiday tradition within the Métis community.
To this day, many Métis communities across the Homeland continue to hold a special place in their hearts for Christmas and New Year's celebrations.