Mi-Carême literally means the middle of Lent; the third Thursday of the forty days of fasting and penance before Easter. This day was reserved to give everyone the opportunity to celebrate and escape their lenten duties. Brought to North America by the French settlers, la Mi-Carême has survived in only four Canadian villages: Saint-Antoine-de-l'Îsle-aux-Grues and Natashquan in Québec, Fatima in the Magdelan Islands, and the region of Chéticamp, St-Joseph-du-Moine and Margaree in Nova Scotia.

Since the Middle Ages, the Mi-Carême in France is an occasion for a large ticker-tape parade. Other French colonies have also retained this one day break from Lent. Guadeloupe and Martinique, as an example, still reserve the twentieth day of the forty day lenten period as a day of wine, rum, feasting and dancing as a means of relief from the rigors of Lent. The highly popular tradition of Mardi Gras celebrated in Louisiana follows this same idea of relief but takes place on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins.

In Canada, there was talk about a legendary woman similar to Santa Claus in his legend; she would wander around the village, dressed in a long robe with her head covered and would leave candies for the children. Most of the time the kids would never see her, but the next day they would be told that the mi-carême had left them treats. There were even kids who hung a wool sock or their hat for the mi-carême to fill with goodies during the night.

The mi-carême was also used as a Boogieman type character by the parents of disobedient kids, telling them that the old mi-carême would come and punish them if they didn’t obey. They would also make the children believe that the mi-carême was responsible for bringing the babies.

The Mi-Carême eventually developed into a break not only for the children but for everyone who wanted the opportunity to escape from their lenten duties. Mi-Carême eve was called " La Petite Mi-Carême" and was reserved for the children. They would disguise themselves and go from house to house asking for treats. For this day only, they were permitted to eat candies.

The following day, it was the adults’ turn. They would disguise themselves and go from house to house, trying not to be recognized by their neighbors. It was the job of the mi-carêmes to change their voice and mannerisms and the job of the people in the house to identify them. This guessing game involved music, food and plenty of amusement.

For over 200 years, this celebration has been kept so strong in the Chéticamp, St-Joseph-du-Moine and Margaree region that instead of one day, people of this area have made it last a whole week! It is not uncommon for people in this region to take their vacation during this week so as to not miss a moment of the event.