New Year's levee

In the 18th century the levée in Great Britain and Ireland became a formal court reception given by the sovereign or his/her representative in the forenoon or early afternoon.

The first recorded levée in Canada was held on January 1, 1646, in the Château St. Louis by Charles Huault de Montmagny, Governor of New France from 1636 to 1648.

In addition to wishing a happy new year to the citizens the governor informed guests of significant events in France as well as the state of affairs within the colony.

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.

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.

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.

Military commanders garrisoned throughout Canada held local levées since, as commissioned officers, they were expected to act on behalf of the Crown on such occasions.

Today, members of the various Canadian Forces units and headquarters across Canada receive and greet visiting military and civilian guests on the first day of the new year.

In military messes, refreshments take a variety of forms: moose milk (with rum often substituted for whisky); the special flaming punch of the Royal Canadian Hussars of Montreal; the Atholl brose of the Seaforth Highlanders of Vancouver; Little Black Devil cocktails (dark rum and crème de menthe) of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.

[15] In literary fiction, levées form an important background to plot development in Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle trilogy.