While many have a set view of what Christmas looks like in the 21st century, that doesn't mean there were always Christmas lights and special edition coffees from Starbucks for Vancouverites to enjoy during December days and nights.
These 25 photos show how Christmas was celebrated over the years, with some snaps dating back over a century ago, like the tugboats with Christmas trees on top.
Some of these traditions might be fun to bring back, like the band playing out of a horse-drawn carriage (a debate about whether the carriage should be pulled by a horse can happen at another time).
What about having Santa at community parties, chatting with people instead of at the end of a lineup at a mall, or a choir singing live on air from a public place?
At any rate, these black-and-white photos from the Vancouver Archives offer an idea of what Christmas in Vancouver looked like in the past, from before World War I to the 1950s.
