24 June 2025

Celebrating la Fête nationale in 1911



Of the many souvenir albums I've seen over the years, that issued by the 1911 Comité de la St Jean-Baptiste is my favourite by far. The title, Album-Souvenir de la Fete [sic] Nationale des Canadiens-Français Célébrée à Hull les 24-25-26 Juin 1911, suggests a detailed account of the year's festivities.

It is!


The earliest of the  138 pages focus on the organizing committee and fundraising, but the photographs and descriptions of the three days of celebration in Hull 114 years ago are invaluable. 


In 1911, the twenty-fourth of June having been a Saturday, the "grande célebrations" began at 9:30 the following morning with a mass.


What I'm drawn to most are references to Quebec's history.


Given the sabre-rattling these days from across the St. Lawrence, this page seems timely,

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