Halfway Through Lent, a Small Quebec Island Celebrates With Masks and Jigs
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- Islanders participated in an annual masked celebration called Mid-Lent, or “Mi-Carême,” involving visiting homes and community spaces while disguising their identities.
- Participants wore wigs, hats, and masks, padded their bodies, and performed jigs to conceal their true identities and footwork.
- The event included live music with spoons, guitars, and button accordions, encouraging dancers to reveal their best moves.
- The tradition, originating from medieval France, persists today in select French-speaking areas of Canada, such as L’Isle-aux-Coudres in Quebec.
- L’Isle-aux-Coudres is a small island in the St. Lawrence River, accessible only by ferry, where this cultural event remains a vibrant community activity.
