A 鈥淗umbug holiday鈥� held at the Fort 91原创 National Historic Site invited visitors to make their own Christmas decorations, while avoiding a grumpy chief trader who was no fan of the holidays.

Christmas wasn鈥檛 as big a deal back then, explained Aman Johal, one of the heritage interpreters at the fort who portray characters from the early days of the fur trade.

鈥淟ooking at the old records that we have, they don鈥檛 really mention too much in terms of celebrating during the Christmas season,鈥滼ohal told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淪o they would have Christmas day, probably, off [but] their biggest day would have been New Year鈥檚 Day.鈥�

And that is the premise of the 鈥淗umbug鈥� event, which pits a scrooge-like character against fort visitors and workers.

鈥淭he chief trader of the day is not in a festive mood,鈥� Johal elaborated.

鈥淗e wants to work, to be focused.鈥�

Slowly, the grumpy chief trader gets in the spirit of the holidays, as guests make ornaments.

鈥淭hey can take one home, but they can make a second one that they use to secretly decorate the fort without the chief trader [catching] them,鈥� Johal explained.

As the event progressed, 鈥渟lowly but surely, we get more ornaments and things decorating up the fort as the days go by.鈥�

Updates posted to the 鈥淗umbug Holiday Journal鈥� at the Fort Facebook page at show the trader slowly succumbing to the holiday spirit.

鈥淢ore lights adorn our buildings.,鈥� one journal entry described.

鈥淚t could just be our hearts longing for home, but our minds are playing festive music in our ears. The cooperage has become quite a spot of merriment in these past few days, and the joy is spreading its way to our upper fort. Our Steward claims to have seen our Chief Trader placing an ornament on a tree last night. The Chief Trader vehemently denies this, however.鈥�

Guests also have an opportunity to sample chestnuts roasted over a wood fire and learn about the history of the fort.

鈥淗umbug Holidays鈥� events run every day at the historic site from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Dec. 30.

Regular admission fees apply: $8.50/adult; $7.00/senior. Free admission for youth 17 and under and annual pass holders

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