Acadian Traditions on Candlemas Day

Georges Arsenault

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ISBN: 9781894838870

Acadian Traditions on Candlemas Day

Candles, Pancakes and House Visits

  Author:   Georges Arsenault    
  Publisher:  Acorn Press

The well-known Acadian folklorist and historian Georges Arsenault will givean illustrated talk on two ancient and popular Acadian winter celebrations.The first is known as Chandeleur (Candlemas) and takes place on February 2.The second, called Mi-Carême, is celebrated a few weeks later in the middleof Lent.Georges Arsenault has researched the origins of these joyful traditions andhow they were observed in Acadian communities in Eastern Canada. Publishedby Acorn Press and translated by Sally Ross, the English titles of his twobooks on these winter festivities are: Acadian Traditions on Candlemas Day:Candles, Pancakes, and House Visits and Acadian Mi-Carême: Masks andMerrymaking.Candlemas Day was at one time an important religious and social festivity.Pancakes were the symbolic food of choice. In many Acadian villages, youngmen went from door-to-door collecting food either for a communal feast or togive to the poor. To celebrate Mid-Lent, people visited each other’s homesdressed up in masks and costumes, as they still do in the Chéticamp regionof Cape Breton. In some villages, a scary woman called the Mi-Carêmedistributed candies to good little children. In his presentation, Arsenaultwill trace the evolution of these traditions, highlight modern-daycelebrations, and look at the role they still play in Acadian culture.

Details and Specs
ISBN associated with this title: 9781894838870
Item AC0086
PublisherAcorn Press
PublisherAcorn Press
Published on November 16 2012
Language eng
Pages 144
Format Paperback
Dimensions9(in) x 6(in)
Shipping weight245(g)
Status ACTIVE TITLE
Georges Arsenault is an historian and ethnologist. He has published extensively in French on the Acadian history and culture of Prince Edward Island. Many of his works have been translated, including The Island Acadians, The Acadians of Summerside, Acadian Christmas Traditions, Acadian Traditions on Candlemas Day, and Acadian Mi-Carême ? Masks and Merrymaking. Since 2009, he has been writing a weekly column in La Voix Acadienne on images of the past.