TodayTomorrow is St. Jean Baptiste day. (It alsoToday happens to be Cookie’s birthday. Happy Birthday Cookie!!). For many this day, which is a statutory holiday in the province of Quebec, is often marked with storefront windows being smashed, looting and it is often tied to the separatist movement within la Belle Province.
I, and probably the churches, find this highly ass backwards. You see, for those who care to make the easy translation Jean de Baptiste is John the Baptist. I am curious how the man who is regarded as a prophet by three religions has become a symbol of vandalism, theft and separation?
Perhaps one of my readers from Quebec can help answer this curiousity.
I was very pleased to hear that our Prime Minister has chosen to take part in some of the celebrations. Not only does it help show Quebecers that he respects the holiday, but it shows he respects them. And I am glad he set a good example by enjoying the day without smashing any windows, without looting, and without promoting separation.
Bonne Fête mes amis en Quebec.
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First of all, it’s “Saint Jean Baptiste.”
Secondly, it’s june 24th.
Thirdly, regarding this bit of “information”:
«I am curious how the man who is regarded as a prophet by three religions has become a symbol of vandalism, theft and separation?»
Further down in that same article, one can read the following:
«Saint John the Baptist is the patron saint of French Canada. The Canadian cities of St. John’s, Newfoundland (1497) and Saint John, New Brunswick (1604) were both named in honour of Saint John. His feast day is June 24, celebrated in Quebec as the Fête nationale du Québec.»
As the patron Saint of French Canada, St. Jean Baptiste has been co-opted by the souverainistes-nationalistes-independentistes as a symbol of the French “nation” (minus the religious element) ever since Trudeau defiantly refused to leave the dais (June 1969?? at the height of the FLQ movement) when bottles were being thrown in his direction.
As to the looting and breaking of store windows, too much beer and spirits will make some people behave in that manner. In honour of which patron Saint did Edmontonians recently do the same, hmmm?
BTW, congratulations to Mr. Harper for skilfully avoiding the term “Quebec nation” when he was apparently asked about it at least 7 times by reporters (once was not enough for the MSM bright lights).
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Gabby
One: Thank you for the correction, I have edited my post to reflect the proper name (not being from Quebec, I have always heard it different depending on the news source) I do beg your pardon.
Two: Merci again. I mistook the day many Quebecers take off work for the actual holiday.
Three: I can understand the patron saint aspect. But as a Greek who knows St. Nicholas is the patron saint of Greece, I also know he is shared with the world (Christmas comes to mind), so you can understand why it bothers me that many separatists have co-opted the the day of a saint to represent their cause.
Being born in 1968, I can only gleen information on the FLQ and the situation back then from stories which inevitably discuss Laporte and the trunk of a car. If you can again respond with suggested (non partisan) reading material, I would love to learn more.
Two other points: I agree with you on Harper avoiding the Quebec Nation questions and as I commented on Joanne’s site, I think your idea of a scholarship as repayment for the Chinese head tax was a great idea.
Thank you for dropping by with your insight.
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Gabby, I forgot to comment on the Edmonton fans. I have to say that I thought the crimes committed by overzealous hockey fans (and yes I consider them crimes) are a bit different than the overzealousness in the name of a saint. Albeit the acts in Edmonton are just as wrong and one wonders why anyone would risk owning a shop near any major sports arena after seeing the way they behaved.
Being a Leaf fan who has never seen them win the cup, when they DO win (yes I still have hope even though I am pushing 40), I may be the first to drive from Ottawa to Toronto to celebrate with them but I would be the last to damage other people’s or city property. I can attest to this after making my way down to TWO Toronto Blue Jay post win parties without being involved in a single broken law. And those when I was in my rebellious early 20’s.
Cheers.
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Hello, TrustOnlyMulder,
No apologies required, no offense taken. Mind you, I can only speak for myself, a transplant to this province. When I came here, I had to learn two languages without the benefit of “welcoming classes – classes d’accueil,” so I’ve always found it difficult to understand the resistance of both extremes of the French-English language-culture divide to learn each other’s language.
As far as non-partisan reading is concerned, I’m afraid I can’t guide you to any. Having had to deal with the “Québec question” on a daily basis, especially during some periods of turmoil, I usually relied on the local news media for information.
I did find some of these sites for you, though, if you’re interested:
They can be helpful to guide you to further reading.
http://www.genealogyforum.rootsweb.com/gfaol/resource/Canada/StJean.htm
http://www2.marianopolis.edu/quebechistory/docs/index.htm
http://www2.marianopolis.edu/quebechistory/
http://www.uni.ca/history.html
http://www.uni.ca/index_e.php
As to La Fête de la St.-Jean in Québec, it seems to have evolved from a folkloric-religious feast to an affirmation of political-nationalist aspirations to a rainbow parasol under which all newcomers to Québec can gather for a rollicking good time (in Québec City and in Montréal, celebrations which many hard-line anglos still prefer to sit out). There are also many local celebrations in smaller cities and towns. They don’t usually degenerate into vandalism and such.
I don’t think the episodes of what you term “overzealousness in the name of a saint” are the norm. Most celebrations are family-oriented and free of vandalism etc.
Judge for yourself. You might enjoy watching tonight’s big show with a number of Québec singers on Radio-Canada @ 9:30 (Montréal time – check your local listings). Enjoy!
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P.S. belated Happy Birthday! to your “Cookie,” whoever that may be.
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Thanks Gabby. (if you don’t understand something I allude to I often put it in my Officially Screwed Jargon link to the left up near the top)
Cookie is what the nickname I gave my daughter. It isn’t a Buffy type nickname. It’s just a play on Kukla (pronounced kook-lah) which means doll in Greek.
Thank you for the links.
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Hi there
I must point out that I feel your post shows the marks of a patchy awareness of Quebec’s culture a bit.
Perhaps the fact that until the Quiet Revolution, Quebec was greatly influenced by its Religious leaders even in the political arena! – and this may be unfortunate – may help you understand why a National Day may be named after a Saint.
But there’s no need to get attached too much to the saint reference here as it is pretty much a sort of ‘relique’ of the past in most Quebecois’ mind. Who knows perhaps the name will be changed to ‘Quebec day’ – just as the sensitive “Dominion Day” was changed to Canada Day – once the Belle Province, as you say, can be done shaking off the remains of its religious olden days.
I think that Harper may not have broken any window, but he may just have, in fact, made an ass of himself by most Quebecois’ standards – even the non-souvereinists – by ‘challenging’ Quebec people to find the historical meaning of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste {uhhh ahhhh}, and refusing to call Quebec a nation. I mean, the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of his comments is ‘fear’ and a bit of passive agressivity there. Whatever shamely thruth he wants to expose, it still remains that Quebec will be celebrating it’s national day on the 24th of June for may years to come with all the ‘pots casses’ it may envolve. It will also call itself a nation. It doesn’t need mister Harper’s approval for that.
and finally,
I hope that Cookie had a nice birthday… as well as Jean Charest…tee-hee
cheers!