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Although the holiday only has official status in Quebec, it is also celebrated by francophones in other Canadian provinces and in the United States as a festival of French Canadian culture. In these contexts, it is more often called Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.
The origins of the traditional festivities are more than 2000 years old. Among several European peoples, the summer solstice was the object of pagan celebrations. Fires were lit during the night in this period of the year when the days are longest. With the arrival of Christianity, the celebration of the event remained; however, it took a new spiritual significance. The celebration of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste was a very popular event in the France of the Ancien régime, and it is celebrated as a religious feast day in several countries, like Denmark.
The tradition landed in North America with the first French colonists. According to the Jesuit relations, the first celebrations of this Christian day in New France took place around 1638Events March 29 Swedish colonists establish first settlement in Delaware, called New Sweden April 15 Shogunate forces defeat the last rebels of Shimabara Rebellion in the fortress of Hara May 11 French admiral d'Estrees runs his whole fleet aground in Cur.
In Lower CanadaLower Canada was a British colony in North America, at the downstream end of the Saint Lawrence River in the southern portion of the modern-day province of Quebec. It was one of the two colonies of the Canadas. The colony was created by the Constitutional, the celebration of Saint-Jean-Baptiste day took a patriotic tone in 1834Events January 1 Abolition of customs charges at borders within Germany. January 3 The government of Mexico imprisons Stephen F. Austin in Mexico City March 6 York, Upper Canada is incorporated as Toronto. March 18 The Tolpuddle Martyrs, six Dorset farm l on the initiative of one of the founders of the newspaper La Minerve , Ludger DuvernayLudger Duvernay ( January 22 1799 November 28 1852) was born in Vercheres, Quebec. He was a printer by profession and published a number of newspapers including the Gazette des Trois-Rivieres and also La Minerve which supported the Parti patriote and Loui, who would later become the first president of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste SocietyThe Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society (French la Societe Saint-Jean-Baptiste is a patriotic institution created by journalist Ludger Duvernay in Lower Canada. It evolved out of the Societe Aide-toi et le ciel t'aidera (Help yourself and Heaven will help you) fo. In the spring of 1834, Duvernay and other Patriotes attended the celebrations of the first St. Patrick's Day in Montreal. This would have given him and others the idea of organizing something similar for all the Canadiens and their friends.
In 1834Events January 1 Abolition of customs charges at borders within Germany. January 3 The government of Mexico imprisons Stephen F. Austin in Mexico City March 6 York, Upper Canada is incorporated as Toronto. March 18 The Tolpuddle Martyrs, six Dorset farm l George-Étienne CartierSir George-Etienne Cartier ( September 6, 1814 May 20, 1873) was a French-Canadian statesman and Father of Confederation. The English spelling of the name, George, is explained by his having been named in honour of King George III. George-EtienneCartier C's " Ô Canada! mon pays, mes amoursThe lyrics to Canada! mon pays, mes amours a French Canadian song, were written by George-Etienne Cartier are and not to be confused with the other O Canada, which today is the official anthem of Canada. They were first sung in 1834, during a patriotic ba" was first sung during a grand patriotic banquet gathering about sixty FrancophoneA Francophone is a person who speaks French natively or by adoption (i. the person uses it in everyday life). As an adjective, it means French-speaking, whether referring to individuals, groups or places. Francophone countries include France, Belgium, Cans and Anglophones of Montreal in the gardens of lawyer John McDonnell, near the old Windsor station . The Canada of the song is of course French Canada (Lower Canada), today southern Quebec. Present at this banquet are many reformist politicians such as O'Callaghan , Perrault , Brown, Rodier , Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine and mayor of Montreal Jacques Viger .
Following the defeat of the Patriotes Rebellion and the military repressions which followed, the day was no longer celebrated for several years.
In 1843, Duvernay established the charitable Association Saint-Jean Baptiste in order to have the Saint-Jean Baptiste celebrated that year. The association was chartered in 1849 with the mission of promoting social and moral progress. (See Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society.)
The celebrations were supported by the Catholic church and started to be primarily religious around that time. Fires were still lit at night, but also the first Saint-Jean-Baptiste parades were organized. They became an important tradition over time. The procession of allegorical floats was introduced in 1874. From 1914 to 1923 the processions were not held.
For the June 24 of 1880, the Saint-Jean-Baptiste society organized the gathering of all francophone communities across North America. The event was called the Convention nationale des Canadiens français. On this occasion, the citizens Quebec City were the first ones to hear the " Ô Canada" of Calixa Lavallée. It quickly became popular and was selected as the national anthem of French Canada by the St-Jean-Baptiste Society. (English words were later written, and the song achieved popularity in the rest of the country. In 1980 "O Canada" became the official national anthem of Canada. Prior to this date, there was no official anthem specific to the Dominion of Canada.)
In 1908, Pope Pius X designated John the Baptist as the patron saint of the French-Canadian nation.
After the Quiet Revolution, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day became very political. The religious symbolism associated with the celebrations was rejected by the younger generations.
In 1968, an incident occurred during the traditional St-Jean-Baptiste parade. With the new Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in attendance on the eve of a general election, a riot broke out, and 290 people were arrested. Trudeau was filmed refusing to take cover or leave the grandstand when the rioters pelted it with rocks and bottles containing paint and acid. The scene was broadcast on Radio-Canada's and CBC's evening news. Many saw it as an open act of courage, and it impressed the electorate. The incident contributed to his Liberal Party winning a significant majority the next day.
In 1969, the little St. John the Baptist icon was destroyed during a riot. This led to the interruption of the parade, which did not take place the next year.