'It is just what you do': Longtime Islanders and newcomers gather for New Year's Day levees

For Oceane Xu, levee day was a brand new experience in her brand new home.

She moved to P.E.I. from China just three months ago with her husband and daughter. 

"We don't have this tradition in China, at least in my cities we don't have this kind of thing," she said. "It is very new for us and it is very friendly." 

Always held on New Year's Day, levees were originally formal court receptions held by the sovereign and were only for men. But they have become a tradition open to all.

Xu said since their arrival, Islanders have been kind and welcoming. As for her wish for the coming new year? 

"For our daughter — our wish is her happiness and her health," she said. "That is also the reason we moved to P.E.I. We think it is a really great place to raise children."

Between snacks and chats, others at the Bishop's levee in Charlottetown made time to consider the year ahead.

Maureen Pendergast from Darnley, P.E.I., came into Charlottetown with her cousins for the day. She wishes for "tranquil times" for 2025, and praised the levees as a way to start the year.

"It is just what you do. It is so special here on P.E.I.," Pendergast said. "Nobody else does this. It's extraordinary, it's wonderful."

"It's something to be protected and cherished."

Charlene Duffy from Stratford, P.E.I., said she had "lost count" of how many Charlottetown-area levees she had been to and said she was having a "really enjoyable day."

But as for resolutions?

"I don't bother keeping resolutions because I don't normally keep them. I've given up on those long ago," she said.

Ali Nasoudi of Charlottetown just learned about the tradition of the levee on New Year's Eve and decided to give the event held at The Haviland Club a try.

"I got to know lots of people," he said. "It was really great, really friendly people and I just saw them for the first time."

Nasoudi's plans for 2025 include graduating and continuing to go to the gym.

Marybeth MacLean is the entertainment chair of The Haviland Club and helped to run Wednesday's levee.

She said approximately 500 people attended this levee day. Wednesday's celebration included historical tours of the club, which used to be an officers club, an army and naval club and the U.S. consulate.

"The military background is part of our history and something we honour," she said.

MacLean said she didn't really have any resolutions for 2025.

"I find the fall is more my rebirth time," she said, but her hopes for the club are for it to be "a more open and inclusive place to gather."

It was Sukriti Chopra's third levee day. She grew up in New Delhi and visited P.E.I. a few years ago, and then decided to stay because she loved the people.

"I grew up in a very big city, a cosmopolitan city, which tends to get impersonal ... the reason I am here is because of the community and people," she said.

"The levees represent the community and the togetherness of the people on the Island and I love that."