Victoria Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony！The Parliament Buildings Transformed into a Dreamy Castle

Text & Photos /Papa Seahorse

In the depths of winter as the year draws to a close, Christmas is the most important holiday of the year for Westerners. In early December, Christmas trees around the city are gradually lit up, ushering in a warm and colorful festive atmosphere.

Located at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, Victoria is a small city with a population of just 80,000, yet it serves as the capital of British Columbia on Canada’s west coast. Surrounded by sea on three sides, its liveliest downtown area clusters around the Inner Harbour, dotted with sailboats and vast sparkling waters. The most famous attractions by the harbor are the Fairmont Empress Hotel and the Parliament Buildings, which resemble a castle with its stone façade.

By six-odd in the evening, the sky had darkened. Strolling down Government Street with a friend, the trees lining the road or buildings along the street shimmered with bright lights. Christmas was present in the old architecture, in the shuttered shop windows, and along the empty, damp streets. Walking toward the bay, the water remained lively after dark — only the daytime bustle of boats and people gave way to the shimmering oil paints of the water’s surface. The Fairmont Empress Hotel was veiled as renovation work was underway, with dim lights shining through, adding an air of mystery.

On the bay side, the Parliament Buildings, however, were pitch dark. Isn’t it usually outlined with decorative lights, sketching out the building’s silhouette — one of Victoria’s iconic night scenes? Just as I wondered, in the blink of an eye, the cluster of lights on the Parliament Buildings suddenly illuminated, a castle of light emerging out of the darkness. The towering Christmas tree, reaching three stories high, also stood brilliantly in front of the Parliament Buildings.

People around me were moving in small groups in the same direction, like moths drawn to the gleaming Parliament Buildings. Following the flow of pedestrians, we arrived at the front of the Parliament Buildings, where the guards at the entrance cheerfully invited visitors inside. “So it’s the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony!” I felt as thrilled as if I’d won the lottery. Normally, the Parliament Buildings are only open for daytime visits, but on this day, citizens were specially invited to come celebrate the lighting ceremony at night.

Stepping into the Parliament Buildings, the winter chill slipped away. On the first floor, a Christmas tree towered in the circular lobby, piercing through the high-ceilinged space from the atrium all the way up to the second floor. The tables around the lobby were filled with festive cookies such as gingerbread and chocolate cookies; nearby, hot chocolate and warm apple cider were served. People of all skin colors and ages, regardless of generation, held warm drinks and cookies, took photos in front of the Christmas tree, and enjoyed this heartwarming moment with family and friends.

You could freely wander around the Parliament Buildings, exploring this 1897 Baroque-style historic structure and catching a glimpse of the legislative chamber where the provincial government normally holds its sessions. People dressed in traditional civilian and official attire mingled among the crowd, chatting warmly with visitors. When they encountered wide-eyed children, they would bend down, gently hold their hands, and smile warmly for the camera.

The sound of string music drifted from above. Taking the escalator upstairs, on one side of the second-floor lobby, an orchestra dressed in blue uniforms played Christmas tunes. The young and earnest artists performed seriously. Though they were a student band from a nearby high school, they played piece after piece — some lively, some soft — not inferior to professionals at all.

A heartwarming Christmas tree lighting ceremony satisfied the ears, the taste buds, the eyes, and filled the heart with peace. Stepping out of the Parliament Buildings, everyone’s face glowed with serene smiles. The harsh winter of the north, infected by the joyous mood, didn’t feel so cold anymore.

Papa Seahorse
A Gemini man under the air sign, before the age of 45, he was a senior marketing and PR executive for a multinational corporation; after 45, he moved to Canada. Alongside his teenage sons, he plays the role of a father amid the foreign springs of cherry blossoms, summers of sunlight, autumns of maple leaves, and winters of rain and snow, while documenting what he sees and hears in Vancouver.

Blog:Vancouver Laughs my.van.lifeFan Page:Papa Seahorse’s Vancouver Diary

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