Bidyot Bhowmik
24th June is a public holiday on occasion of Fete Nationale du Quebec || Bidyot Bhowmik
La Fete Nationale du Quebec also known as Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day is a holiday celebrated on June 24 by French Canadians across Quebec in Canada. It was brought to Canada by French settlers celebrating the traditional Feast Day of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist-the patron-saint of the French speaking Canadians. It has been declared a public holiday in the province of Quebec with publicly financed numerous events organized throughout the province of Quebec widely by a Comité organisateur de la fête nationale du Québec. The feast day of Saint John the Baptist was a popular feast day in many European countries. The holiday arrived in Quebec along with the first French colonists. The cultural pride and rich heritage of Canada’s Francophones are expressed in the colourful parades and lively festivities that mark Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, which takes place on June 24. Francophones and Francophiles across the country celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day—especially in Quebec, where June 24 has been officially declared the National Holiday.
Quebec’s national holiday, Fête Nationale, returns in earnest this weekend, after most festivities were cancelled or reduced in the past two years due to COVID-19 pandemic. With public health restrictions like masks and distancing no longer mandatory, concerts, events and parties are expected to draw large crowds throughout the province of Quebec. There are 5,000 activities planned in 650 different places across Quebec over the long weekend. Most events are free, and can be found on the Fete Nationale Website.
Columnist, writer and advisor to CBNA, Montreal, Canada, 24th June 2022
