La Fête Nationale: 4 things you didn't know
From pagan mid-year celebration to Quebec's patriotic holiday
St-Jean-Baptiste Day, officially known in Quebec as the Fête nationale, has a long and storied history that goes far beyond the modern-day parades, parties and concerts.
Here are four things you may not know about the annual June 24 holiday.
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1. Those pagan days
The roots of the holiday can be traced back to the pagan custom of celebrating the summer solstice by lighting bonfires on the longest day of the year. Experts say the pagan custom was co-opted by Catholics in the 4th century.
In France, many still light a bonfire to celebrate the day.
2. It was inspired by St. Patrick's Day
In 1834, an influential journalist visited the St. Patrick's Day celebration in Montreal and thought French Canadians should have their own patriotic event similar to it. He decided to organize St-Jean celebrations for French Canadians.
3. 'O Canada,' Oh Quebec
In Quebec, the first St-Jean-Baptiste Day was celebrated in 1834 at a banquet where attendees sang their interpretations of patriotic songs.These new songs including George-Étienne Cartier who sang 'Ô Canada! mon pays! mes amours!"
4. A non-political holiday, until the 1960s
St-Jean-Baptiste Day became a provincial holiday in Quebec in 1925 but it was barely celebrated. In the 1960s, it started being viewed more politically.
Under then-premier René Lévesque, the Parti Québécois declared it the "Fête nationale du Québec" in 1977.