Christmas is finally here, which means it’s time to have some holiday fun!
We’ve taken the liberty of assigning one Christmas carol to each CFL team as a festive showing of holiday spirit. Feel free to have a drink and sing along to whichever tune (or team) suits your fancy.
We hope your vocal cords are ready!
B.C. Lions — Go Tell It On The Mountain
This club was named in honour of two peaks along the North Shore Mountains dubbed “The Lions,” which can be seen from most of Vancouver. Sometimes these lists write themselves and this was a very easy selection.
Calgary Stampeders — Sleigh Ride
It’s impossible to have a sleigh ride without some strong horses, which is exactly what makes this the perfect song for the Stamps. This carol also includes lyrics about tasty food and beverages, which are always available at McMahon Stadium’s many pregame tailgates.
Edmonton Elks — Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
This team is named after an antlered, hoofed animal of the forest, hence the selection. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer also received consideration, but it seemed sacrilegious to pair Edmonton with a song with the word “red” in the title given their rivalry with Calgary.
Saskatchewan Roughriders — O Come, All Ye Faithful
Rider Nation led the CFL in attendance again in 2021 with an average of 28,837 fans at each of their seven regular season home games. It only seems fitting to pair this club with a song about gathering large numbers of people.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers — Fum, Fum, Fum
This Catalan carol has lyrics that frequently repeat, “fum, fum, fum,” a world that translates to “smoke.” Winnipeg just repeated as Grey Cup champions and Willie Jefferson often talks about opponents not being ready for their “smoke.”
Hamilton Tiger-Cats — Star of the East
The Ticats have been the best team in the East Division over the past decade, hosting seven postseason games and reaching four Grey Cups. If Hamilton hopes to become the Star of the CFL, they will eventually need to win one of those Grey Cups.
Toronto Argonauts — I Saw Three Ships (Come Sailing In)
The Argos returned to their traditional boat logo for the 2021 season, which drew rave review from fans and media alike. The Boatmen may have come up short in the East Final, but at least they looked good doing it!
Ottawa Redblacks — In The Bleak Midwinter
This song is about finding hope through tough conditions, which is exactly what’s facing R-Nation at the moment. Ottawa has won only six games since the 2018 Grey Cup but a new general manager has given fans a sense that change is coming.
Montreal Alouettes — Huron Carol
This carol was written by a French missionary who combined a traditional French melody with the language of the Huron/Wendat peoples. It is easily the most popular French-Canadian Christmas carol, making this an easy pick for the Als.
