400 years!

Posted on February 8, 2008 by Corinne Barker

Did you guys knew that this year is the 400th anniversary of Québec?!
In deed, I saw that on the ‘ Carnaval du Québec’ website.
But what’s not cool, is that I won’t be in Québec for  the Saint-Jean-Baptiste. Wich would be the first time in my whole-short life!
I still want to do something, even my friend want to celebrate it.

Maybe when we’ll be there this summer Dustin and I will go in québec city because they do special stuff this year for the 400th.

This week I bought some maple syrup to try something, and I closely watch where it has been made, and bought the one made in Granby Québec!
I feel good supporting my province even if I’m not there now!

I am looking at the history of the Saint-Jean, and it’s quite interresting. It all started as a pagant festivity of the summer solstice. Then the church changed it for la Saint-Jean Baptiste, and moved it 3 days after (june 24th). Both celebration are quite similar: Light of the summer, and open the way for the light of Jesus-Christ. So for years it’s been a quite religous celebration until ‘ la révolution tranquille’.

1638: was the first Saint-Jean in New-France.
1834: Anglophone and francophone from Montréal get together in a banquet on the 24th trying to unite everyone together in hopes to change the military British gov.
June 24th 1880: first time that they hear and sing the national anthem in french (O Canada)
1925: It becomes a national holiday!
60’s: Sole patriotic. Ironicly took place on the Plaines d’Abraham!
End of 70’s: It took a politic twist, pressing on the separatism and independance.
After 1995: The people of Quebec join together many etchnic groups and celebrate what we were, who we are, and what we dream to be.

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7 Responses to “400 years!”

  1. Gabrielle, on February 8th, 2008 at 10:58 pm Said:

    I like the picture (am I actually saying that?) I did not know you cared so much about celebrating la St-Jean… I don’t think I’ve ever done something special on that day. Maybe I don’t care about it so much because people’s ways to celebrate here in Québec aren’t that cool “let’s get drunk and party”. Of course I am sure there are people who celebrate it in a sane and healthy way, but I wonder what they do.

  2. Gabrielle, on February 8th, 2008 at 11:00 pm Said:

    PS, everybody knows its Quebec’s 400th anniversary this year! Can you believe that Saskatchewan celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2005!!!

  3. Gabrielle, on February 8th, 2008 at 11:02 pm Said:

    Well I mean, everybody from Québec. And you know that “everybody” does not actually mean “everybody” - literally.

  4. Gabrielle, on February 8th, 2008 at 11:04 pm Said:

    Aren’t you happy to have so many comments? Well now that you know they’re all from me it’s not so fun anymore.

    I wanted to add something: university’s on strike so I find myself with little on my hands.

    I loooooooooooove you!

  5. Corinne Barker, on February 9th, 2008 at 12:28 am Said:

    Thx Gabe for your lovely comments. For la Saint-Jean, I was always at camp around the bun fire. One time we burned a bunkbed!! and a door with its window!
    I knew about your strike, I read your blog. Well since you have time in your hands… you could grab a smoothie at the Moose ok?

  6. Gabrielle, on February 10th, 2008 at 8:32 pm Said:

    Sure. Do you want me to bring you one too?

  7. do, on February 12th, 2008 at 11:52 pm Said:

    i didnt know it was the 400th anniversary of quebec until my teacher in sociologie mentionned it 3 day after…show’s how inculte i am…ah la la la

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