Interview with Gérard Vézina

People would mark the midpoint of Lent by going door to door in costume, receiving sweets, singing and dancing. Although the tradition has died out in Montmagny, it lives on in the nearby community of L’Isle-aux-Grues.

Transcript:

Gérard Vézina: People would start visiting each other during the holidays. It was a time for dropping in on other families. You’d arrive at a house and there’d be music playing, a dance party.

Interviewer: Because there were a lot of people, you’d dance quadrilles?

Gérard Vézina: By the time it was over, we’d have plans for next time. Someone would invite everyone over on Tuesday or Thursday. Then, it would be someone else’s turn. It carried on like that from the holidays right up to Mardi Gras. Nonstop.

Interviewer: And then Lent arrived?

Gérard Vézina: Things stopped for Lent. But then they started up again for Laetare Sunday. A whole week of it around Laetare Sunday. And then, when Easter arrived, we did it all over again.

Interviewer: Did people keep visiting each other over the summer?

Gérard Vézina: Yes! A lot of the time, they danced on the veranda.