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Quebec City Carnaval
February 2004
I went to the “Carnaval de Québec” this weekend. It is Quebec
city’s annual winter carnival. The “carnaval” used to be pretty
rowdy but in recent years the organizers have made an effort to make it more
family friendly. Everywhere I went there were activities for children both indoors
and outside. There are slides of all kinds, skating, snowshoeing, cross-country
skiing, dog sledding, ice fishing… There are races and contests, parades
and fireworks. There are teepees, snowmobiles and clowns. There are marching
bands everywhere. It is very colorful and noisy! Everywhere day and night you
hear a sound similar to a moose calling which is produced by a long red plastic
trumpet that is very popular.
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This year was the fiftieth anniversary of the mascot ”BONHOMME CARNAVAL”. He is a large, friendly snowman known the world over. He is everywhere, and everyone wants to hug him or have their picture taken with him. He only wears a red “tuque” and a “ceinture fléchée” which is a colorful woven belt wrapped and tied around his waist.
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His palace, made of thousands of blocks of ice, is a landmark. You can walk through it and, at night, it is lit in a kaleidoscope of colors.
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Every year they make a new effigy of Bonhomme and sell it to raise money. Here is a photo of some of them from years past.
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The carnival lasts almost three weeks, and
there are many yearly events such as the canoe race across the river. Teams
race across the half frozen St Lawrence River, they half paddle half carry the
boats across.
There is an impressive snow sculpture competition. The entries are classified
by category such as international, national and beginners, but they are all
spectacular!
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There is also a ball that is very popular.
There used to be a beauty contest that ended with the crowning of a Queen, this
tradition was abandoned a few years ago but I saw a video about it. It was fun
looking back at the clothes they wore in the fifties and sixties.
There are two nighttime parades that are very colorful. The one I attended culminated
in a firework display on the Plaines d’Abraham where 12000 glasses of
bubbly were served.
One tradition that is inseparable from the carnaval is the drinking of “Caribou”.
Caribou is a hot drink made from St Georges wine, alcohol and cinnamon. It is
said to be a tradition that dates way back. It certainly helps to beat the cold.
You can buy a hollow cane and fill it with Caribou…There are road side
stands that fill them up…there used to be a lot more…
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Which brings me to the crux of the matter: the COLD! Yes it was cold, very cold even! It is imperative to dress very warmly. But judging by the number of people out there all weekend, it can be done and should not be an excuse for missing out on this great event.