Moderne Francos

All About the Franco-American Experience

Category: Traditional Dress and Folk Costume

A History of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day in the United States

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On June 24, 2023

In All Posts, Franco-American History, Quebec, Traditional Dress and Folk Costume, Traditional Music and Folklore

What is Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day? 

Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day is a national holiday that began in the province of Québec celebrated by French-Canadians, Québécois, and Franco-Americans. Celebrated on June 24th, this holiday honors the traditional feast day of St. John the Baptist. However, the religious background of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day has become less prevalent in favor of a more secular approach. 

What we know as Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day today comes more from French-Canadian businessman Ludger Duvernay. In 1834, Duvernay attended a Saint Patrick’s Day celebration in Montréal and became inspired by the display of cultural pride. So, he got the idea of French-Canadians having a similar holiday, and shortly after, Duvernay formed the Saint Jean-Baptiste Society. The first official Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day was celebrated on June 24, 1834. 

Also called “La St-Jean” and “Fête nationale du Québec,” the holiday is mainly known today as a celebration of Québec Francophone culture. Think of how we celebrate the Fourth of July in the U.S. with parades, family get-togethers, barbeques, picnics, bonfires, and fireworks; that’s how our Northern cousins kick off Fête nationale! 

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An Introduction to French-Canadian Folklore & Franco-American Culture

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On March 3, 2023

In All Posts, Franco-American History, Franco-American Stories, Quebec, Traditional Dress and Folk Costume, Traditional Music and Folklore, Traditions

Salut, everyone! I’m giving a virtual Valley Talk presentation with the Museum of Work and Culture on March 5th at 1:30pm Eastern Time. Register for the talk for a deep dive into multiple aspects of French-Canadian folklore, from storytelling to dance to music to visuals. 

Valley Talks: Visualizing Franco-American Culture Through French-Canadian Folklore

To prepare for the presentation, let’s do an introduction to French-Canadian folklore and what it means for Franco-American culture. 

In this post, I’ll highlight folklore as a whole, whether French-Canadians have visual culture, French-Canadian folklore, and whether we’re too modernized for these practices today. 

Check out my virtual Valley Talk to learn about these ideas and concepts in more depth during my presentation! 

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Simple Outfits Inspired By Saint-Jean-Baptiste: Wear Blue And White!

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On June 22, 2022

In All Posts, Franco-American Stories, Quebec, Traditional Dress and Folk Costume, Traditional Music and Folklore

Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day is upon us on June 24th, the national holiday celebrating French-Canadian and Québecois culture throughout Québec. French-Canadians also celebrate this holiday in other Canadian provinces and even in the United States. 

These SJB festivities go the extra mile in Québec, with people donning extravagant blue-and-white face paint and decorative accessories. There are also plenty of creative costumes highlighting the colors and fleur-de-lys of their province’s flag.

The Flag of Québec

So, how can Franco-Americans recreate these iconic looks for ourselves on SJB? We may not have extravagant parades, but we can make our own blue-and-white looks for this holiday!

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Is it Too Late? Establishing New Symbols of Franco-American Culture

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On April 30, 2022

In All Posts, Franco-American History, Franco-American Stories, Quebec, Traditional Dress and Folk Costume, Traditional Music and Folklore, Traditions, Women's History

If I showed you a beer stein, most likely, you would know what culture is represented by it. You would look at it and gather from what you’ve seen in mainstream American culture what it is to celebrate German heritage. 

You’ve at least heard of Oktoberfest celebrations, got news of the White House acknowledging German-American Day on October 6th every year, and have seen the traditional Bavarian dress worn at festivals. 

I grew up in the Midwest hearing of Oktoberfest celebrations with people dancing in lederhosen and dirndl while balancing pints of German beer.

Having some German heritage, I admire these festivals’ dedication to keeping the German-American culture alive in the Midwest, especially when you consider the history of the German language taking a massive hit during times of war. 

The language became lost to the German-Americans, so their descendants speak English but deeply love their culture. 

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Cultural Costume Trends That You See At French-Canadian Winter Festivals

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On February 5, 2022

In All Posts, Quebec, Traditional Dress and Folk Costume

Every winter, several New France-inspired festivals in Canada bring in the crowds with their ice sculptures, parades, skating, and more. However, some activities won’t be taking place this coming year, but there’s a hidden aspect in plain sight that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves: les costumes!

If you’re thinking that most people attend these winter festivals wearing anything that will keep them warm, this is true on most counts. But there’s an intentional style about the textiles, textures, colors, and shapes of the winter clothing worn by performers, dancers, and attendees. 

As I’ve covered in my previous piece about suggested traditional and cultural dress for Franco-Americans to join in on the festival fun, this is the more winter-focused compliment to that post. If you’re looking for the history of the capote and ceinture fléchée, these pieces were better explained in the mentioned post.

In understanding the traditional clothing and costumes of cultures and why I firmly believe they’re essential to acknowledge, it’s the fascination with how different cultures express how they see themselves in a visually artistic form.

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Why Franco-Americans Should Be Embracing Their Culture Through Traditional Dress

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On May 20, 2021

In All Posts, Franco-American History, Franco-American Stories, Quebec, Traditional Dress and Folk Costume, Traditions, Women's History

Cultures all over the world have a form of traditional dress or folk costume. Some of these cultures have retained this part of themselves, continuing to wear their garb daily. Others save this festive type of dress for special occasions, ceremonies, or cultural festivals. 

Traditional dress and folk costume is pure artistic expression that connects people with the fabrics, patterns, and clothing created by the people of their culture or within their region of the world. 

This clothing is a visual representation of the culture itself, as well as offering functionality depending on the main climate of the area. But the real treat is taking in the amazing colors, patterns, textures, and shapes.

The artistry and creativity of cultural clothing around the world blows me away. You don’t even have to go that far back in time to find these amazing creations because most traditional dress and folk costumes are based on historical dress primarily between the 1800s-1900s.

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