Christmas in Montreal, 1932

The traditional Ewart Christmas always included snow, the gathering of boughs from woods on the outskirts of Montreal, making a wreath for the door, and 'decking the halls' with branches, tinsel and shiny baubles. Gifts were packaged and tied up with paper and string, then sent by post to more distant family and friends. Peter painted cards in water colour, the beginning of a lifetime tradition of handmade Christmas cards. This 16mm movie was filmed in 1932 with an artificial light source, something unusual at this time in home movies. In this video you see Peter Ewart, his father Clarence, his mother Edith, Peter's Grandma Doane, and Uncle Fred. This was Amanda Doane's last Christmas.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Christmas
• Montreal
• Quebec
• 1930s
• Peter Ewart
• 16mm
• Doane

[NODARRYL]

Yes a true wonder even for me sometimes.

[sunonstone]

Hi, Darryl,

Thanks for responding! Dad, and indeed HIS dad even more surely, would be astounded that strangers could use this medium to watch the old family Christmas movies. Simpler, yes, and richer. . .

[NODARRYL]

I love looking at films and photos of simpler times Thanks for posting.

[filthyassmonkey]

my dads time

[sunonstone]

The part of this video where Peter is painting a Christmas card is significant when you realize that he grew up to be a noted painter of Canadian land, sea and cityscapes. For fifty years handmade Christmas cards were a Ewart tradition.