with
Toronto Civic Employees War Veterans Honour Guard at the
Mayor of Toronto's New Year's levee in 2011. Over the years, New Year's levées have become almost solely a Canadian observance, although kinds of levées still exist in other countries. Today, levées are the receptions (usually, but not necessarily, on New Year's Day) held by the governor-general, the lieutenant governors of the provinces, the military and others, to mark the start of another year and to provide an opportunity for the public to pay their respects. Most levées may be attended by any citizen, including children. Attending the lieutenant governor's levée is an annual ritual for some families. Today the levée has evolved from the earlier, more boisterous party into a more sedate and informal one. It is an occasion to call upon representatives of the monarch, military and municipal governments and to exchange New Year's greetings and best wishes for the new year, to renew old acquaintances and to meet new friends. It is also an opportunity to reflect upon the events of the past year and to welcome the opportunities of the New Year. The province of Prince Edward Island maintains a more historical approach to celebrating levee day. On New Year's Day, all Legions and bars are opened and offer
moose milk (
eggnog and rum) from the early morning until the late night. Though there are still the formal receptions held at
Government House and
Province House, levée day is not only a formal event. It is something that attracts a large number of Islanders, which is quite unusual in comparison to the other provinces where it has gradually become more subdued. Prince Edward Island levées begin at 8 a.m. The historic town of
Niagara-on-the-Lake (the first capital of
Upper Canada) holds a levée complete with firing of a cannon at
Navy Hall (a historic building close to
Fort George) The levée is well attended by townspeople and visitors. Toasts are made to the
King, "our beloved Canada", the
Canadian Armed Forces, veterans, "our fallen comrades", as well as "our American friends and neighbours" (this final toast would not have been made two centuries ago when the town was founded). Greetings are brought from all levels of government and it is a great community event. Some religious leaders, such as the Bishop of the Anglican
Diocese of Ontario, hold a levée on New Year's Day.
Refreshments As has the levée itself, refreshments served at levées have undergone changes (both in importance and variety) over the years. In colonial times, when the formalities of the levée had been completed, guests were treated to wine and cheeses from the homeland. Wines did not travel well during the long ocean voyage to Canada. To make the cloudy and somewhat sour wine more palatable it was heated with alcohol and spices. The concoction came to be known as ("
caribou blood"). Under British colonial rule, the wine in was replaced with whisky (which travelled better). This was then mixed with goat's milk and flavoured with nutmeg and cinnamon to produce an Anglicized version called "moose milk". Today's versions of moose milk, in addition to whisky (or rum) and spices may use a combination of eggnog and ice cream, as well as other alcoholic supplements. The exact recipes used by specific groups may be jealously guarded secrets. Refreshments were clearly an important element in the New Year's festivities. A report of the New Year's levée held in Brandon House in
Manitoba in 1797 indicated that "
... in the morning the Canadians (men of the North West Company) make the House and Yard ring with saluting (the firing of rifles). The House then filled with them when they all got a dram each."
Simpson's
Athabasca Journal reports that on January 1, 1821, "'' the Festivities of the New Year commenced at four o'clock this morning when the people honored me with a salute of firearms, and in half an hour afterward the whole Inmates of our Garrison assembled in the hall dressed out in their best clothes, and were regaled in a suitable manner with a few flagon's Rum and some Cakes. A full allowance of Buffaloe meat was served out to them and a pint of spirits for each man; the Women were also entertained to the utmost of our ability.''" When residents called upon the governor to pay their respects they expected a party. In 1856 on
Vancouver Island, there was "an almighty row" when the colonial governor's levée was not to the attendees' liking.
Municipalities with levées •
Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico •
Almonte, Ontario •
Bracebridge, Ontario •
Brampton, Ontario •
Brantford, Ontario •
Brockville, Ontario •
Calgary, Alberta - Not a municipal event: hosted by •
Cannington, Ontario •
Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia •
Cambridge, Ontario •
Cobourg, Ontario •
Collingwood, Ontario •
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island •
Grand Manan, New Brunswick •
Edmonton, Alberta - Not a municipal event: hosted by the lieutenant governor •
Elliot Lake, Ontario •
Esquimalt, British Columbia •
Georgina, Ontario •
Guelph, Ontario •
Hubbards, Nova Scotia •
Halifax, Nova Scotia •
Hamilton, Ontario •
Kentville, Nova Scotia •
Kingston, Ontario •
Kitchener, Ontario •
Langford, British Columbia •
London, Ontario •
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia •
Medicine Hat, Alberta •
Milton, Ontario •
Mississauga, Ontario •
Moncton, New Brunswick •
Montreal, Quebec •
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario •
North Saanich, British Columbia •
North Dumfries Township, Ontario •
Oak Bay, British Columbia •
Oakville, Ontario •
Orangeville, Ontario •
Oshawa, Ontario •
Owen Sound, Ontario •
Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, until 2012 •
Pictou, Nova Scotia •
Picton, Ontario •
Pinware, Labrador • Port Colborne, Ontario •
Port Hope, Ontario •
Redwater, Alberta •
Regina, Saskatchewan •
Rivers, Manitoba •
Riverview, New Brunswick •
Saanich, British Columbia •
Shelburne, Nova Scotia •
Sioux Lookout, Ontario •
Sooke, British Columbia •
St. Catharines, Ontario •
Stellarton, Nova Scotia •
Stewiacke, Nova Scotia •
Summerside, Prince Edward Island •
Thunder Bay, Ontario •
Toronto, Ontario •
Trenton, Ontario •
Vaughan, Ontario - Used to be hosted by the
MP, now municipal event since 2023. •
Victoria, British Columbia •
Waterloo, Ontario •
Windsor, Ontario •
Winnipeg, Manitoba •
Woodstock, New Brunswick •
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia ==Military levées==