French:
Glossary:
Mail:
Festivals and Celebrations
Although life in colonial Louisbourg can sometimes seem rather severe by our standards,
its inhabitants had many occasions to escape the daily rigors. From births, weddings and religious holidays to artillery salutes, these people enjoyed an assortment of festive events. While the majority of celebrations had their origins in religion, some marked state occasions, and others were more private affairs.
The Days of Holy Obligation dictated, for the most part, the days on which special religious observances were practiced. In all, counting Sundays, about 90 days of the year were Days of Obligation. On such days people were required to adhere to certain prescripts:
- They were to attend High Mass, Vespers, and Benedictions.
- They did not work during that day.
- They could not buy liquor at taverns and inns during the services.
- They observed the days of fast and abstinence that preceded the holy day.
During the days of abstinence the eating of meat was not permitted and during the fast days no meat, eggs or dairy products could be eaten, with only one meal at noon and a light evening snack permitted. Music and parades were also an important part of holy days and Louisbourg's bells would be rung in celebration.
Days reserved for official celebration would generally revolve around events concerning the lives of those who governed the colony. There would be celebrations for officials of state to commemorate their births, deaths, retirements, promotions, and marriages. Such days would be marked by artillery salutes, fireworks and bonfires, dinners, dancing, and sometimes free wine.
Although we have little documentation concerning days of official celebration, 1752 was such a year for festivities that its cost had to be explained in the official correspondence of the Louisbourg administrations and can provide us with a few examples:
January 17 - "La feste de Monseigneur Rouillé", the Minister of Marine, celebrated the feast-day of his patron, Saint-Antoine.
February 13 - Comte de Raymond, Île Royale's commandant, was given a 15-gun salute in honor of his recovery from illness.
June 1 - "La fête-dieu" (Corpus-Christi), a holy day noted by a 21-gun salute.
Another important official celebration was the "Festin des Sauvages", an annual soiree during which the French feasted with and presented gifts to their Indian allies.
The different groups and classes within the social structure of the Louisbourg community held various celebrations for weddings, births, baptisms, and other family events. The festivities would include dinner parties and dancing and would be as lavish as the host's financial standing would permit.
One of the best known celebrations at colonial Louisbourg occurred every August 25 and was dictated by the church calendar as a day of memorial to France's King Louis IX. It was a day which instilled both piety and patriotism. It was filled with festivities, artillery salutes, church services, feasting, and a special evening bonfire. King Louis IX 's canonization was performed by Pope Boniface VIII in 1297 and the fête, still celebrated at the Fortress of Louisbourg, brought together all the elements of religious, official, and private celebrations.