Saint-Jean Baptiste Day

The Fete nationale du Quebec (Quebec National Holiday) is the official holiday of the city of Quebec. It falls on the same day as that of the saint, John the Baptist, and has tended to obscure the religious holiday. Nevertheless, most French-speaking Canadians prefer to call this Saint-Jean Baptiste Day, and celebrate their cultural and national pride with lively parties and colourful parades as well as religious services. There is a pagan compo nent to this too as the holiday falls on midsummer's day, when a tradition developed, many centuries ago, to light bonfires to celebrate the arrival of the warmer weather. So these festivities combine the ancient rites of the summer solstice with the traditional celebration in honour of the patron saint of French Canadians.