For much of the 20th century, Christmas in Toronto was a season of bright streets, bustling shops, and shared excitement. Beginning in the early 1910s, downtown storefronts along Yonge and Queen Street set the tone for the city’s celebrations. Shop windows glowed with twinkling lights, moving figures, and snowy miniature scenes that drew crowds of families and curious children.
By the 1920s, Eaton’s had become the centrepiece of holiday decorating. Its grand window displays and the annual Santa Claus Parade turned the department store into a winter landmark. The tradition of stopping to admire the windows became a cherished outing, marking the official start of the season for many Torontonians.
In the postwar years, neighbourhoods across the city embraced the joy of decorating. Strings of lights appeared along porches, and freshly cut trees filled living rooms. The lighting of Nathan Phillips Square introduced a new gathering place, where families celebrated beneath a glowing civic Christmas tree.
Dalia, a photojournalist hailing from Montreal, is deeply passionate about documenting events and sharing stories about people’s lives. She is on track to graduate from Concordia University with a degree in journalism and a minor in art history. Currently, Dalia holds the position of Editor-in-Chief at her school’s newspaper, The Concordian. Following graduation, she aims to secure a full-time reporting job at a major news outlet.
