National Patriotes Day

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The green, white and red tricolour used by the Parti patriote between 1832 and 1838
The green, white and red tricolour used by the Parti patriote between 1832 and 1838

The National Patriotes' Day (French: Journée nationale des Patriotes) is a paid statutory holiday observed annually in Quebec, Canada, on the Monday preceding May 25[1][2]. Since 2003, Quebecers take advantage of this paid day "to underline the importance of the struggle of the patriots of 1837-1838 for the recognition of [their] nation, its political freedom and the establishment of a democratic government".[3] Before 2003, the Monday preceding May 25 of each year was the Fête de Dollard, a commemoration initiated in the 1920s to compete with Victoria Day.

Contents

[edit] History

In 1937, the Fêtes du centenaire de 1837, organized by citizens of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu, commemorated "the struggles of the Patriots of 1837-1838 for liberty, the national recognition of our people and for democracy".[4] The festivities took place on various sites on the territory of Québec. Some citizens produced various objects in souvenir of the event such as a 48-page book entitled Programme-souvenir : Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu, le dimanche, 19 septembre 1937. Hommage aux Patriotes de 1837 à Montebello, en octobre 1937, an 8-page souvenir-album entitled Souvenir des fêtes du centenaire de 1837 à St-Denis-sur-Richelieu, P.Q., Canada, 28-29 août 1937, and another one of 20 pages entitled Album-souvenir : hommage des citoyens du comté des Deux-Montagnes aux patriotes de 1837, à Saint-Eustache, 10 octobre 1937.[5]

In 1962, year of the 125th anniversary of 1837, occurred the first of an uninterrupted series of yearly gatherings at Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu.[6]

On October 6, 1982, the Government of Quebec proclaimed Journée des Patriotes the Sunday closest to November 23 in order to "honour the memory of the Patriots who struggled for the national recognition of our people, for its political liberty and to obtain a democratic system of government".[7]

The desire that the Journée des Patriotes be commemorated by a paid holiday incited some citizens to campaign for a new statutory holiday or for the replacement of an existing one. The Club Souverain de l'Estrie started the movement "For a paid holiday in memory of the Patriots" in 1987[8][9]. Other civil organizations later joined in the campaign such as the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society of Montreal and the Comité du 15 février 1839, founded in 1997 to help the financing of 15 février 1839, a movie by Pierre Falardeau. During the National Congress of the Parti Québécois held from May 5 to 7, 2000, members adopted a resolution inviting the government to "decree a paid holiday in memory of the Patriots of 1837-1838 in replacement of an existing holiday."[10]

It is finally by the replacement of the Fête de Dollard that the Journée des Patriotes obtained its own paid holiday. The moving from November to May was motivated by the will to highlight the starting point of the numerous public meetings organized by citizens throughout Lower Canada from May to November 1837.[11][12]

[edit] Timeline

  • 2003 - On May 19, the first celebration of the National Patriotes' Day occurs.
  • 2002 - On November 20, Order in Council 1322-2002 proclaims that the Journée des Patriotes, henceforth known as the National Patriotes' Day, will be the Monday preceding May 25 in replacement of the Fête de Dollard.
  • 2001 - On November 21, MNA Bernard Landry proposes a motion inviting the National Assembly "to underline the importance of struggle of the patriots of 1837-1838 for the recognition of our nation, its political freedom and the establishment of a democratic government".
  • 2000 - During the National Congress of the Parti Québécois held on May 5-7, members adopt a resolution inviting the government to "decree a paid holiday in memory of the Patriots of 1837-1838 in replacement of an existing holiday."
  • 1982 - On October 6, the Government of Quebec proclaims Journée des Patriotes the Sunday closest to November 23 of each year.
  • 1937 - The fêtes du centenaire de 1837: citizens of the region of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu and elsewhere in Québec unite to "commemorate the struggles of the Patriots of 1837-1838 for Liberty, the national recognition of our people and for democracy".

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "An Act respecting labour standards - article 60", in CanLII, updated on May 1st, 2008, retrieved May 31, 2008
  2. ^ "With respect to statutory general holidays, Order 1322-2002 designated as “Journée nationale des Patriotes” (National Patriotes’ Day) the holiday that falls on the Monday preceding May 25 (known as Victoria Day in the other Canadian jurisdictions)." - Highlights of Major Developments in Labour Legislation (2002-2003), in the site of Human Resources and Social Development Canada, modified September 22, 2004, retrieved May 31, 2008
  3. ^ "Ce jour férié soulignera la lutte des Patriotes de 1837-1838 pour la reconnaissance nationale de notre peuple, pour sa liberté politique et pour l’obtention d’un système de gouvernement démocratique" - "Congé férié à l’occasion de la Journée nationale des Patriotes", press release of the Office of the Premier of Quebec, November 24, 2002, retrieved May 31, 2008
  4. ^ "La Journée nationale des Patriotes", in the site of the Maison nationale des Patriotes, updated February 20, 2008, retrieved on May 31, 2008
  5. ^ Found in the "Catalogue Iris" of Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec
  6. ^ "La Journée nationale des Patriotes", in the site of the Maison nationale des Patriotes, updated February 20, 2008, retrieved on May 31, 2008
  7. ^ "Proclamation de la Journée des Patriotes", Order in Council 2300-82, October 6, 1982, in Vigile.net, retrieved May 31, 2008
  8. ^ Gilles Laporte. "La fête des Patriotes : le temps d'agir", in Les Patriotes de 1837@1838, November 10, 2001, retrieved May 31, 2008
  9. ^ Serge Denis. "Les patriotes de 1837 pourraient déloger Dollar des Ormeaux", in La Tribune, November 19, 2001, retrieved May 31, 2008
  10. ^ Alcide Clément. Le jour férié de nos Patriotes s'en vient..., for the Club souverain de l’Estrie, May 25, 2000, retrived May 31, 2008
  11. ^ "Congé férié à l’occasion de la Journée nationale des Patriotes", press release of the office of the Premier of Quebec, November, 24 2002, retrieved May 31, 2008
  12. ^ Gilles Laporte. "La fête des Patriotes : le temps d'agir", in Les Patriotes de 1837@1838, November 10, 2001, retrieved May 31, 2008

[edit] References

[edit] In English

[edit] In French

[edit] See also

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