Theculture of Quebec emerged over the last few hundred years, resulting predominantly from the shared history of theFrench-speaking North American majority inQuebec. Québécois culture, as a whole, constitutes all distinctive traits – spiritual, material, intellectual and affective – that characterize Québécois society. This term encompasses the arts, literature, institutions and traditions created by Québécois, as well as the collective beliefs, values and lifestyle of Québécois. It is a culture of theWestern World.
Quebec is the only region in North America with a French-speaking majority, as well as one of only two provinces in Canada where French is a constitutionally recognized official language. As of 2006, 79% of all Quebecers list French as their mother tongue;[1] since French is the official language in the province, up to 95% of all residents speak French.[2] The 2001 census showed the population to be 90.3 percent Christian (in contrast to 77 percent for the whole country) with 83.4 percentCatholic (including 83.2 percent Roman Catholic).[3]
History made Quebec a place where people can experience North America, but from the point of view of a linguistic minority surrounded by a larger English-speaking culture. This enclaved status has pushed many in Quebec to favourcultural protectionism, which can be seen in efforts such as the adoption of laws like of theCharter of the French Language and the creation of government institutions like theOffice québécois de la langue française. TheEncyclopædia Britannica describes contemporary Quebec political culture as a post-1960s phenomenon resulting from theQuiet Revolution, an essentially homogeneoussocially liberal counter-culture phenomenon supported and financed by both of Quebec's major political parties, who differ essentially not in a right-vs-left continuum but afederalist-vs-sovereignty/separatist continuum. The Quiet Revolution also turned Quebec from the most religious province into the most secular.
Quebec has been strongly influenced byEarly modern France as it was part ofNew France. Interactions with France today can also be impactful(seeVive le Québec libre!). The province has been strongly influenced by British culture as a result of theConquest of New France and subsequent centuries spent as part of theBritish Empire and under the British monarchy. Quebec has received aCeltic influence because of past immigrants fromIreland andScotland.English-speaking Canadians (called"Anglais" or"Anglo") of other provinces, especially of nearby provinces likeOntario, as well as thoseinside Quebec, continue to influenceQuébécois today. Quebec is strongly influenced byAmerican culture because ofgeographical andaffective proximity. For historical and linguistic reasons, Quebec has cultural links with other North American French-speaking communities, particularly with theAcadians andFranco-Ontarian communities inEastern Ontario andNorthern Ontario. Quebec has links -but to a lesser extent- to francophone communities inWestern Canada, theCajun French revival movements inLouisiana,Haiti and theFrench Antilles. Influences fromFirst Nations are reflected in Québécois activities includingsnowshoeing andmaple syrup production.
The Cultural Heritage Fund is a program of the Quebec government[4] for the conservation and development of Quebec's heritage, together with various laws.[5] Several organizations ensure that same mission, both in the social and cultural traditions in the countryside and heritage buildings, including theCommission des biens culturels du Québec, the Quebec Heritage Foundation, the Conservation Centre of Quebec, the Centre for development of living heritage, the Quebec Council of living heritage, the Quebec Association of heritage interpretation, etc.
Several sites, houses and historical works reflect the cultural heritage of Quebec, such as theVillage Québécois d'Antan, the historical village ofVal-Jalbert, theFort Chambly, the national home of the Patriots, the Chicoutimi pulp mill (Pulperie de Chicoutimi), theLachine Canal and theVictoria Bridge. Strongly influenced by the presence of the Catholic Church, the development of the religious history of Quebec is provided by organizations like the Council of the religious heritage of Quebec. Since 2007, the government promotes, with the various players in the field, the conclusion of agreements on the use of property belonging to episcopal factories and corporations to establish "partnerships in financing the restoration and renovation of religious buildings."[6]
As of December 2011, there are 190National Historic Sites of Canada in Quebec.[7] These sites were designated as being of national historic significance.[8]
Various museums tell the cultural history of Quebec, like theMuseum of Civilization, theMuseum of French America, theMcCord Museum or the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History inPointe-à-Callière, displaying artifacts, paintings and other remains from the past of Quebec. Many literary works reproduce the daily lives of the past, following the social and cultural traditions of Quebec television series reproducing the old days[9] such as the trilogy ofPierre Gauvreau (Le Temps d'une paix,Cormoran andLe Volcan tranquille),La Famille Plouffe,Les Belles Histoires des Pays-d'en-Haut,La Petite Patrie,Entre chien et loup,Les Filles de Caleb,Blanche,Au nom du père et du fils,Marguerite Volant,Nos Étés orMusée Éden, among others.
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In terms of folklore, Quebec's French-speaking populace has the second largest body of folktales in Canada (the first being Native people); most prominent within Quebec folklore are old parables and tales.[10] Other forms of folklore includesuperstitions associated with objects, events, and dreams. TheAssociation Quebecoise des Loisirs Folkloriques is an organization committed to preserving and disseminating Quebec's folklore heritage. It produces a number of publications and recordings, as well as sponsoring other activities.[11]
When the early settlers arrived from France in the 17th century, they brought with them popular tales from their homeland. Adapted to fit the traditions of rural Quebec by transforming the European hero into Ti-Jean, a generic ruralhabitant, they eventually spawned many other tales. Many were passed on through generations by what French speakingQuébécois refer to asLes Raconteurs, or storytellers.[12] Almost all of the stories native to Quebec were influenced byChristiandogma andsuperstitions. TheDevil, for instance, appears often as either a person, an animal or monster, or indirectly through Demonic acts.[13]
Various tales and stories are told through oral tradition, such as, among many more, the legends of theBogeyman, theChasse-galerie, theBlack Horse of Trois-Pistoles, theComplainte de Cadieux, theCorriveau, thedancing devil of Saint-Ambroise, theGiant Beaupré, themonsters of the lakesPohénégamook andMemphremagog, ofQuebec Bridge (called the Devil's Bridge), theRocher Percé and ofRose Latulipe, for example.[14]
TheCinémathèque québécoise has a mandate to promote the film and television heritage of Quebec. TheNational Film Board of Canada (NFB), a federal Crown corporation, provides for the same mission in Canada. The Association of Film and Television in Quebec (APFTQ) promotes independent production in film and television.[15] Several movie theatres across Quebec ensure the dissemination of Quebec cinema. With its cinematic installations, such as theCité du cinéma andMel's studios, the city ofMontreal is home to the filming of various productions.[16]
The first public movie projection in North America occurred inMontreal on June 27, 1896. Frenchman Louis Minier presented a film on aCinematograph in a Café-Theatre onSaint Lawrence Boulevard.[17] However, it was not until the 1960s when theNational Film Board of Canada was established that a genuine Quebec cinema industry would emerge. The 1970s were a "watershed"[18] moment for Quebec films, when sophisticated themes and techniques were used by filmmakers such asClaude Jutra. Jutra'sMon Oncle Antoine (1971) has been assessed by some film critics as "one of Canada's greatest films".[18]
Denys Arcand found success in the 1980s withThe Decline of the American Empire (1986) andJesus of Montreal (1989). In 2004, an Arcand film,The Barbarian Invasions, won theAcademy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.Jean-Claude Lauzon's films, such asNight Zoo (Un zoo la nuit) (1987) andLéolo (1992), gained traction with audiences and critics alike.[19]
C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005) byJean-Marc Vallée was successful at home and abroad.Xavier Dolan attracted audience and critical attention withI Killed My Mother (2009) and subsequent films. Quebec films have gained recognition through multiple nominations for theAcademy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in recent years;Incendies (2010) byDenis Villeneuve,Monsieur Lazhar (2011) byPhilippe Falardeau, andWar Witch (2012) byKim Nguyen.
Important contributions to world cinema includeCinéma vérité and artistic animation.
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Quebec has carved a niche for itself in the field ofcircus arts, where it emphasizes theEuropean tradition of circus.
Several circus troupes were created in recent decades, most notably theCirque du Soleil.[20] Its productions includeVarekai,Dralion,Alegría,Corteo,KOOZA,Quidam,Kà,Zumanity,Love,Mystère andO (which is performed on a water platform).
It is one of the world's few circuses without animal performers. Other internationally successful troupes includeCirque Éloize and Cirque ÉOS. Presented outdoors under a tent or in venues similar to theMontreal Casino, the circuses attract large crowds both in Quebec and abroad. In the manner of touring companies of theRenaissance, theclowns, street performers,minstrels, ortroubadours travel from city to city to play their comedies. Although they may appear randomly from time to time during the year, they are always visible in the cultural events such as theWinterlude in Gatineau, theQuebec Winter Carnival, theGatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival, theQuebec City Summer Festival, theJust for Laughs Festival in Montreal and the Festival of New France in Quebec. TheNational Circus School and theÉcole de cirque de Québec were created to train futureContemporary circus artists. For its part,Tohu, la Cité des Arts du Cirque was founded in 2004 to disseminate the circus arts.[21]
Cavalia, aShawinigan-based horse show, has, since 2003, gained massive popularity in Montreal andLos Angeles.[citation needed] It features both acrobatic and equestrian arts. All of the horses are male, most of which are stallions.
Comic books in Quebec traditionally follow theEuropean tradition of comics, combining bothgraphic design andliterature. Though most are aimed at children, they are generally considered more dignified entertainment and there are many notable exceptions ofgraphic novels and comic books aimed at an older reading audience, such as the ones published by the Montreal-basedDrawn & Quarterly,Les 400 coups, andLa Pastèque.
Traditional music is imbued with many dances, such as thejig, thequadrille, thereel andline dancing. Classical dance in Quebec took root after World War II. Les Ballets Quebec (1948–51) was a short-lived ballet corps founded by Gérald Crevier.Les Grands Ballets Canadiens was founded in 1959, and gained an international reputation.[22]
Le Groupe de la Place Royale (1966) was the first modern dance company in Quebec, eventually moving to Ottawa in 1977. Le Groupe Nouvelle Aire (1968–1982) was the second modern dance company, also established in Montreal.[22] During the 1980s, modern dance groups La La La Human Steps and O Vertigo became internally known.[23] ChoreographerMargie Gillis has established a successful career across Canada and internationally.[24]
Comedy is a vastcultural sector. Quebec has created and is home to several different comedy festivals, including theJust for Laughs festival in Montreal, as well as the Grand Rire festivals of Quebec, Gatineau and Sherbrooke.[25] TheAssociation des professionnels de l'industrie de l'humour (APIH) is the main organization for the promotion and development of the cultural sector of humour in Quebec and theNational School of Humour [fr], created in 1988, trains future comedians in Quebec.[26] TheLigue nationale d'improvisation (LNI), created in 1977, promotes a number of comedians by combining humour with improvisation theater.[27] TheGala les Olivier [fr], in honour of the former humoristOlivier Guimond, rewards the personalities of Quebec comedy.[28] The National School of humour (École nationale de l'humour) was created in 1988 to form the next generations of Quebec comedians.
Many popular Québécois comedy shows exist, such asCré Basile, Le zoo du Capitaine Bonhomme, Lundi des Ha! Ha !, Démons du midi,La petite vie,Les Bougon, Le sketch show, etc. There are also many comedy and cartoon shows for children, such asLa boîte à surprise,Bobino, Le pirate Maboule,Fanfreluche, La Ribouldingue, Les 100 Tours de Centour, Patofville,Passe-Partout,Robin et Stella,Iniminimagimo, Vazimolo, Télé-Pirate,Bibi et Geneviève,Watatatow,Caillou, Cornemuse, Macaroni tout garni,Toc toc toc, Ramdam, Tactik, etc.[29]
Several prominent Quebec artists and humorous groups are known nationally and internationally, such asRose Ouellette (known asLa Poune), Juliette Petrie,Stéphane Rousseau,François Pérusse,Gilles Latulippe,Yvon Deschamps,Marc Favreau (famous for his character ofSol, a hobo clown), Michael Noël (and the character ofCapitaine Bonhomme),Jacques Desrosiers (performer of the famous clownPatof),Serge Thériault and Claude Meunier (asDing et (and) Dong), Les Grandes Gueules, Lise Dion, Jean-Michel Anctil,Martin Matte,Garihanna Jean-Louis andLouis-José Houde, to name only a few.[30] Some humorous programs are or were also popular such asCré Basile,Le Zoo du Capitaine Bonhomme,Lundi des Ha! Ha! (Monday, Ha! Ha!),Démons du midi (Midday Devils),La Petite Vie,Les Bougon, andThe sketch show (Quebec version). A famous show calledBye-Bye, broadcast each year on December 31, was a funny way to review the year just completed and laugh about any news (political or not) that happened that year.
Le Poisson D'Avril (April Fools) is an old French tradition involving sticking fish (usually paper ones) on people's back without their knowledge. It dates back to 1564, and is still to this day a tradition in Quebec. Now, in most other parts of the world, people play pranks on each other instead of the fish custom.
Prior to the modernQuebec sovereignty movement, many citizens of Quebec decided to express their dissatisfaction with federal elections by forming theRhinoceros Party of Canada. The party fielded humorous candidates in many ridings with a satirical platform. They added colour to many otherwise drab elections for more than two decades. Children also have their comedy andanimated cartoons such asThe Surprise Box,Bobino,Le Pirate Maboule,Fanfreluche, theRibouldingue,Les 100 tours de Centour,Patofville,Passe-Partout,Robin et Stella,Iniminimagimo,Vazimolo,Tele-Pirate,Bibi et Geneviève,Watatatow,Caillou,Cornemuse,Macaroni tout garni,Toc toc toc,Ramdam,Tactik and many more.[31]
The first literary output from Quebec occurred under the regime ofNew France, with the many poems written by the early inhabitants, as well as histories. It was, however, during the 19th century that Quebec novels were first published. The first Quebecois novel was written by Philippe Aubert de Gaspé in 1837, titledLe chercheur de trésor orL'influence d'un livre.[32]
The period 1895 to 1930 saw a rapid growth in French literature in Quebec, and writers were heavily influenced by poetry and novels from Paris. Prominent Quebec writers of this period includeÉmile Nelligan,Victor Barbeau,Paul Morin,Guy Delahaye,René Dugas,René Chopin,Charles Ignace Adélard Gill,Jean-Aubert Loranger,Arthur de Bussières,Albert Lozeau,Robert Choquette,Albert Dreux,Gonzalve Desaulniers,Lionel Léveillé,Robert de Roquebrune, andLéo d'Yril.
After 1900, Quebecois writers explored regional and ethnic identity in what has become called theroman du terroir (English: novel of the homestead, or from the land) movement. Writers who can be placed within theterroir framework includeCamille Roy,Adjutor Rivard,Frère Marie-Victorin,Louis Hémon,Lionel Groulx,Alfred Desrochers,Albert Laberge,Blanche Lamontagne-Beauregard,Henriette Dessaulles,Germaine Guèvremont,Damase Potvin,Albert Ferland,Adélard Dugré,Pamphile Lemay,Ulric Gingras,Alphonse Désilets,Nérée Beauchemin andRodolphe Girard.
Theroman du terroir style of novel continued its popularity during the era sometimes called "La grande noirceur" (the great darkness), during the premiership ofMaurice Duplessis, a time of extreme social and political conservatism in the province. Other types of novels developed during the 1940s and 1950s, such as theroman de moeurs urbaines (novel of urban mores), as exemplified by the writing ofGabrielle Roy,Ringuet, andRoger Lemelin.[33] Another development in the novel was theroman psychologique (psychological novel), showing the inner turmoil of a character who cannot live "within the colonized society that values religion, family, and a mythic past".[34] In the meantime, English-language writers from Quebec became prominent in Canada. Writers of this period includeClaude-Henri Grignon,Félix-Antoine Savard,Ringuet,Anne Hébert,Saint-Denys Garneau,Alain Grandbois,Rina Lasnier,Clément Marchand,Roger Lemelin,Gabrielle Roy,Yves Thériault,Félix Leclerc,Isabelle Legris,Claire Martin,Francis Reginald Scott,Jean-Charles Harvey,A.M. Klein,Irving Layton,Léo-Paul Desrosiers,André Langevin,Gérard Bessette,Gratien Gélinas,Marcel Dubé,Paul-Émile Borduas,Robert Élie,Robert Charbonneau,André Giroux,Claude Gauvreau,Rex Desmarchais,Gilles Hénault, andJean Le Moyne. Among the well-known literary works produced in Quebec at this time were two cultural and political manifestos,Prisme d'yeux (1948) andRefus global (1948), early indications of the beginning of theQuiet Revolution in Quebec.
The Quiet Revolution began in earnest during the 1960s. The expression of Quebecois identity, or even nationalist sentiment, shaped much of Quebecois literature in the period 1960 to 1970. The Cold War, the feminist movement,[35] the influence of the United States' "counterculture", the concerns of thebaby boom generation, and other cultural developments sweeping the Western world during the era also permeated the works of Quebec writers. Writers of the Quiet Revolution era includeGaston Miron,Réjean Ducharme,Hubert Aquin,Marie-Claire Blais,Jacques Ferron,Jacques Poulin,Roch Carrier,Georges Dor,Jacques Godbout,Michel Tremblay,Jacques Renaud,Victor-Lévy Beaulieu,André Major,Jacques Brault,Paul-Marie Lapointe,Gatien Lapointe,Paul Chamberland,Fernand Ouellette,Roland Giguère,Alphonse Piché,Jean-Guy Pilon,Françoise Loranger,Jean-Claude Germain,Jean Barbeau,Michel Garneau,Fernand Dumont,Pierre Vadeboncœur,Pierre Vallières,Jean Bouthillette. Also writing during this era wereMavis Gallant,Denis Vanier,Michèle Lalonde,Lucien Francoeur,Patrick Straram,Gérald Godin,Michel Beaulieu,Nicole Brossard,Pierre Morency,Marcel Bélanger,Hélène Brodeur,Claude Jasmin,Gilles Archambault,Gilbert La Rocque,Jean-Pierre Ronfard,Normand Chaurette,Leonard Cohen,Jean Éthier-Blais,Yves Beauchemin, andAndré Loiselet.
After 1970, themes and techniques ofpost-modernism began to influence much of Quebec's literature.[35] Writers prominent from 1970 onward includeMordecai Richler, Nicole Brossard,Louky Bersianik,France Théoret,Madeleine Gagnon,Denise Boucher,François Charron,Claude Beausoleil,Yolande Villemaire,Marie Uguay,Roger Desroches,Gaétan Brulotte,Jean-Yves Collette,Daniel Gagnon,Michel Khalo,François Ricard,Marie José Thériault,André Belleau, andClaudine Bertrand. Popular French-language contemporary writers of the late 20th and early 21st century includeLouis Caron,Suzanne Jacob,Yves Beauchemin, andGilles Archambault.
English-language writers of Quebec includeDavid Homel,Neil Bissoondath andYann Martel. An association, theQuebec Writers' Federation, promotes English-language literature of Quebec and gives out an annual prize to Quebec writers. English-language literature from Quebec is sometimes classified under English-Canadian literature.
Literature has been produced in other minority languages in Quebec, such asHebrew,Yiddish (including an active Yiddish theatre scene in Montreal during the early to mid-20th century), and indigenous aboriginal languages.
The traditionalfolk music of Quebec has two main influences: the traditional songs ofFrance, and the influence ofCeltic music, withreels and songs that show a definite affinity with the traditional music of Canada'sMaritime Provinces,Ireland,Scotland, andBrittany. Various instruments are more popular in Quebec's culture: harmonica (music-of-mouth or lip-destruction),fiddle,spoons,jaw harp andaccordion. Thepodorythmie is a characteristic of traditional Quebec music and means giving the rhythm with the feet.[36] This traditional music is becoming increasingly more popular, with the success of groups such asLa Bottine Souriante.
From Quebec's musical repertoire, the songÀ la claire fontaine[37] was the anthem of theNew France,Patriots andFrench Canadian, then replaced byO Canada. Currently, the songGens du pays is by far preferred by many Quebecers to be the national anthem of Quebec.
Quebec has also produced world-class classical music over the years, such as theMontreal Symphony Orchestra (MSO), founded in 1934. Under the direction of Swiss conductorCharles Dutoit from 1977 to 2002, the MSO gained a truly international reputation.[38] Montreal is also home to theOrchestre Métropolitain, theOrchestre de la Francophonie, theearly music ensembleArion, the all-female ensembleLa Pietà, created by violinistAngèle Dubeau, to name but a few;Quebec City is home to theViolons du Roy under the direction ofBernard Labadie and theOrchestre symphonique de Québec under the direction ofYoav Talmi. Quebec has a number of classical music festivals, such as the Festival de Lanaudière,Festival Orfordchamber music festival held at theOrford Art Centre, and where the ensemble theOrford String Quartet was first formed.
Classical music aficionados can attend performances in a number of concert halls.Salle Wilfrid Pelletier at thePlace des Arts cultural centre in the heart of Montreal is home to the MSO. Montreal'sMcGill University also houses three concert halls:Pollack Hall,Tanna Schulich Hall andRedpath Hall. TheUniversité de Montréal has itsSalle Claude Champagne, named after QuebeccomposerClaude Champagne. TheGrand Théâtre de Québec in Quebec City is home to the Orchestre symphonique du Québec. A regional centre,Rimouski, is home to theOrchestre symphonique de l'Estuaire and has a large concert hall, theDesjardins-Telus theatre.
Jazz also has a long tradition in Quebec. Montreal's annualMontreal International Jazz Festival draws a number of visitors each summer. Many Quebecers have made a name for themselves in the jazz world, such asOscar Peterson,Oliver Jones,Karen Young,Lorraine Desmarais,Vic Vogel,Michel Donato, andAlain Caron.
A number of performers enjoy considerable success at home, both in terms of record sales and listenership, while remaining relatively unknown outside Quebec. In a number of cases, French-speaking Quebec singers are able to export their talent to France and Belgium. Belgian singerLara Fabian followed the reverse path, moving to Quebec to seek a breakthrough in North America. Artists likeCéline Dion and the pop-punk groupSimple Plan have achieved considerable success in English-speaking countries by expanding their audience base. Celine Dion, for instance, has sold over 50 million albums in the United States alone.[39]
Montreal also has a flourishing English-language music scene. Some of the well-known English-language musical acts from Quebec includeLeonard Cohen,April Wine,The Box,Men Without Hats,Corey Hart, sistersKate and Anna McGarrigle,Rufus Wainwright,Martha Wainwright, andArcade Fire.
Quebec is also well known for their French-language country music. Though English-language country is found in Quebec as well, French is the primary version. French-language singers includeRenée Martel,Gildor Roy,Patrick Norman,Willie Lamothe,Steph Carse, andGeorges Hamel.
The Quebec scene is renowned in metal circles for its production of some of the world's finesttechnical andprogressive death metal bands such asVoivod,Gorguts,Quo Vadis,Neuraxis andMartyr as well as Augury and Unexpect. The Quebec metal scene also produced other fine bands such asKataklysm (northern hyperblast),Despised Icon (deathcore) andCryptopsy (death metal).
Various musical events are held throughout Quebec, such as theFestival d'été de Québec, theEmerging Music Festival ofRouyn-Noranda,Festival en chanson de Petite-Vallée, theMontreal International Jazz Festival, theGranby International Song Festival, theInternational Festival of Rhythms of the World in Saguenay, theFestival Western de Saint-Tite, theMontreal FrancoFolies festival, theMondial des Cultures of Drummondville, the White Nights of Anse de Roche,Woodstock en Beauce, etc. Other festivals join music to fireworks, such as Grand Feux Loto-Québec at theMontmorency Falls, Quebec City, theInternational Loto-Québec Firework at amusement parkLa Ronde, Montreal, or theGrands Feux du Casino in the park of Lac-Leamy in Gatineau.[40]
Quebec theatre was largely based on plays originating in France, Great Britain, or the United States before the mid-20th century, when plays written by Quebec dramatists gained popularity.[41]Gratien Gélinas gained fame in Quebec and made an important contribution to Québécois identity with his character Fridolin, a Montreal boy who speaks in local slang (Joual) and has humorous views about everyday life.[42]
Since the 1960s, many playwrights have embraced themes ofmodernism andpost-modernism. This became known as the "new Quebec theatre", featuring works by playwrights such asMichel Tremblay,Jean-Claude Germain, and Jean Barbeau.[43]Michel Tremblay, perhaps the most well known outside Quebec, brought themes such as Quebec identity, working class values, gay relationships, and urban life to the stage.Robert Lepage is prominent as a playwright, actor and director.Wajdi Mouawad is known for the critically praised playScorched, which was filmed asIncendies.
Several landmark theatres are active in Montreal and Quebec City. TheThéâtre du Nouveau Monde was established in Montreal in 1951 as a classical theatre company, staging works byMolière among others. During the Quiet Revolution, it began staging plays of a more contemporary and experimental nature as well. It lies within the precinct of theQuartier des Spectacles entertainment district, which encompasses more than 30 live performance halls. Other prominent theatres in the district includeThéâtre Jean-Duceppe,Théâtre Saint-Denis,Montreal Arts Interculturels, andThéâtre Telus. There are also theThéâtre d'Aujourd'hui,Théâtre de Quat'Sous,Théâtre du Rideau Vert,Théâtre Espace Go,Monument-National, andThéâtre Maisonneuve among others. TheMonument-National theatre is owned by theNational Theatre School of Canada located in Montreal. TheMaison Théâtre, founded in 1982, is an association of 27 theatre companies that has a mission to develop and promote theatre for children and youth. On its part, Quebec City is home toCapitole de Québec andGrand Théâtre de Québec.
Centaur Theatre is Montreal's largest English-language theatre.
The summer theatre is a true symbol of Quebec literature.[44][45] Presented in the summer, it offers a variety of amusements, usually musicals or humorous dramas, sometimes outdoors, in rural and semi-rural regions of Quebec, in venues such as the theatre ofla Dame de Cœur (the Lady of Heart) inUpton,Montérégie, theGrands Chênes (Great Oaks) Theatre inKingsey Falls,Centre-du-Québec and the theatre ofla Marjolaine inEastmain,Estrie. The Quebec Theatre Academy and the Quebec Association of Playwrights (AQAD) are the main organizations for the promotion of literature and theatre in Quebec. The Quebec literary awards, including the Medal of theAcadémie des lettres du Québec, and theSoirée des Masques reward the important personalities of the year.
For many years a mostly rural society, Quebec has a tradition ofcraft art, including the making ofstained glass windows, as exemplified in the art ofMarcelle Ferron.
The group known asLes Automatistes, and its best known artist,Jean-Paul Riopelle, is perhaps Quebec's best known contribution to the world of fine art.
During the 19th and early 20th century, Quebec art was dominated by landscape painting, although some artists, includingJames Wilson Morrice,Ozias Leduc, andAlfred Laliberté, showed a receptiveness to European trends such assymbolism and the style ofMatisse.[46]
Modern Quebec art developed during and after World War II.Alfred Pellan andPaul-Émile Borduas were leaders of the modern art movement in Quebec. Non-figurative works became notable among the creations of Quebec artists. Two broad trends during the post-War years have been identified:abstract expressionism (Marcelle Ferron,Marcel Barbeau,Pierre Gauvreau, and Jean-Paul Riopelle) andgeometric abstraction (Jean-Paul Jérôme,Fernand Toupin,Louis Belzile, andRodolphe de Repetigny).Jean Dallaire andJean-Paul Lemieux became prominent figurative painters during this period.[46]
The most well-known painters of the 1960s includeGuido Molinari,Claude Tousignant, andYves Gaucher.[46] During the 1960s, art "happenings" took place in Montreal, as in other artistic centres worldwide. Public art also became more visible in Montreal.
Montreal was the first city in Canada to participate in theNuit Blanche (White Night) art festival, which is now an annual event. During this festival, art galleries and performance spaces open their doors to the public for evening exhibits.
In the 1990s,Charles Carson was "discovered" by Guy Robert, founder of theMusée d'Art Contemporain de Montréal. Struck by "the freshness and vivacity of the palette, the dynamism and diversity of the compositions, the rhythm that animates each segment of his paintings" (ROBERT, Guy. "Carson", Mont-Royal: Iconia, 1993, 55 pp.), he sees Carson as one of the main painters known in Quebec, and he coined the word "carsonism" to name his art.
Québécois architecture is characterized by its uniqueCanadien-style buildings as well as the juxtaposition of a variety of styles reflective of Quebec's history. When walking in any city or town, one can come across buildings with styles congruent toClassical,Neo-Gothic,Roman,Neo-Renaissance,Greek Revival,Neo-Classical, Québécois Neo-Classical,Victorian,Second Empire,Modern,Post-modern orSkyscrapers.
Canadien-style houses and barns were developed by the first settlers of New France who settled along the banks of the Saint Lawrence River. These buildings are rectangular one-storey structures with an extremely tall and steep roof, sometimes almost twice as tall as the house below. It is thought that this roof design may have been developed to prevent the accumulation of snow. They were usually built out of wood, but the surviving ones are almost all built out of stone.
Canadien-style churches also developed. Each new village would build its own church, often being inspired by the churches of Québec and Montreal in the process. These churches long served as landmarks while traversing rural Quebec and were built in the center of the town. Quebec is often said to possess the most beautiful churches in North America.[47]
During the 1950s and 1960s, Quebec maintained recordfertility rates, with theRoman Catholic church using their priests (established in all parishes and small towns) to guide and direct people's attitudes and morals. In the post–Quiet Revolution era, this attitude completely changed. In 2001, the fertility rate in Quebec was 1.474 per thousand.[citation needed]
In Quebec, many, if not all, married women retain theirmaiden names when they marry, as was the case in the Middle Ages. This is mandated in theCivil Code of Quebec[2]. This followed the 1970s strongfeminist movement and the Quiet Revolution. Since June 24, 2002, Quebec has had acivil union system available to both opposite-sex and same-sex couples. On March 19, 2004, Quebec became thethird province in Canada to legally perform asame-sex marriage, following a court challenge brought byMichael Hendricks and René Leboeuf. The province is known as one of the most tolerant and gay friendly places in North America.
As in European countries likeItaly orFrance, where cooking is considered one of the fine arts, fine dining is a passion among the well-to-do of Quebec society.[citation needed] Even small communities proudly boast of famous inns where the chef has an international reputation.[citation needed] This could be partly explained by a strong immigration in the 1960s and 1970s fromItaly,Belgium,Switzerland andFrance. Many of those immigrants werewaiters,cooks andchefs.Food from Quebec include most of the foods fromCanada, TheAmericas, Northern Africa, Asia,Europe and then some scattered otherfood.
The traditional Quebecois cuisine descends from 16th centuryFrench cuisine, thefur trade and a history ofhunting. French settlers populating North America were interested in a new cuisine to confront the climate and the needs arising from the work of colonization. It has many similarities with Acadian cuisine. Quebec's cuisine has also been influenced by learning fromFirst Nation, byEnglish cuisine and byAmerican cuisine. Quebec is most famous for itsTourtière,Pâté Chinois,Poutine,St. Catherine's taffy among others. "Le temps des sucres" is a period during springtime when many Quebecers go to thesugar shack (cabane à sucre) for a traditional meal. Traditional dishes are also the star ofLe temps des fêtes (holiday season, a period which covers the winter holidays.
Quebec is the biggestmaple syrup producer on the planet.[48] About 72% of the maple syrup sold on the international market (and 90% of the maple syrup sold in Canada) originates from Quebec. The province has a long history of developing and perfecting the craft of producing maple syrup, and creating newmaple-derived products.
Quebec has produced beer since the beginning of colonization especially with the emergence ofspruce beer. Quebec also produces a great number of high-quality wines includingice wine andice cider. Because of the climate and available resources, it is only since the 1980s that these drinks can be produced in industrial quantities. Today there are nearly a hundred breweries and companies, includingUnibroue,Molson Coors,Labatt and many others.
Quebec has produced cheese for centuries. Most of the first cheeses were soft cheeses, but after theConquest of New France, hard cheese began to be created as well. The first cheese-making school in North America was established in Saint-Denis-de-Kamouraska in 1893. It was at this moment that the monks of La Trappe of Oka began to produce the famousOka cheese. Today there are over 700 different cheeses in Quebec.
The province at the beginning of the 20th century was known for its low-paidblue-collar workers employed intextiles,paper plants and shops. Quebec also has a long tradition inforestry. In the first part of the 20th century, many lumber camps inMaine,Vermont andNew Hampshire were staffed byFrench-Canadian workers.
Despite a nationwide decline in union membership in Canada since 1981, Quebec has sustained one of the highest rates of union membership in the country.[49] Quebec is the only jurisdiction in North America where aWalmart has ever successfully unionized, although the store closed shortly thereafter.[50]
During the 17th century, thenobles and thebourgeois followed the fashions ofFrance. They were always one year late to the fashion of Paris because it took one year for the King's ship to arrive.[51] Thehabitants, including thelords andserfs of theseigneuries, adapted their clothes to the customs of Native Americans: women wore shorter skirts andshawls, and men woremitasses (a type of leggings originating with First Nations),moccasins andwoolentoques. Many poorer women often arranged their hair on Sunday in a more sophisticated fashion, despite administrators of the colony stating that this style was reserved for the bourgeois and nobles. Some women wore clothes deemed indecent, with breasts almost visible.[52]
TheCoureur des bois andVoyageurs wore similar clothing. During the colder months, they would wear a large coat made of deer, moose, or caribou skin with a large belt around the middle, called aCeinture fléchée, made of leather or colorful wool. Voyageurs had the option of wearing clothes supplied by their employer, so a Voyageur who worked for theHudson's Bay Company might have chosen to wear acapote coat with the traditional HBC stripes on them. Though, those who decided to make their own capot could style it to their whims. On their heads, they either wore a fur hat or a toque (a close-fitting knitted cap). Red toques appear frequently in artwork, but other colours like grey and blue were worn too.
Today, Québécois clothes follow the styles of mass-produced fashion. Québécois haute fashion is pioneered today with stylists, such as Marie Saint-Pierre, Marie-Claude Guay, Philippe Dubuc, Leo Chevalier, etc. Works are sold in boutiques and shops likeLa Maison Simons,Ogilvy's,Holt Renfrew,Les Ailes de la Mode, etc. Designers who do business in Quebec are mainly concentrated inLes Cours Mont-Royal.La Grande Braderie exhibits the works of Québécois fashion designers. Thegala de la Griffe d'or rewards the best of those creators.
Starting probably in the late 1940s and reaching its peak in the 1970s, some Quebec residents have vacationed or spent the whole winter months in southeast Florida, mainly in theHallandale Beach andFort Lauderdale regions. Initially a trend that only the wealthy could afford, this destination is now considered by many as outdated and unstylish. It did, however, spur the coining of the term "Floribécois",[53] a Quebecsnowbird. The increasing real estate taxes might explain why Quebecers increasingly tend to visit theNorth Miami area instead of residing there for part of the year. Many snowbirds owned a trailer or a house, but were renting the land where their property was located. New locations andresort areas such asMexico,Cuba, theDominican Republic andCaribbean islands are now favoured by many Quebecers to spend their traditional sunny one or two-week vacations.
A lot of Quebec tourists go toThe Wildwoods orCape May along theJersey Shore in the summer; in 2010 it was estimated 13 percent of the tourists to the area came from Quebec and brought in around $650 million. Several hotels in The Wildwoods and Cape May are named to attract Canadian tourists.Cape May County began targeting Quebec tourists around 1970 and once operated a tourism office in downtown Montreal.[54]
Video games are popular in Quebec, as they are in the rest of Canada and the United States. The majority of video games come from either the United States, Canada, orJapan. Only some games have been translated into French, but thegovernment of Quebec and theEntertainment Software Association of Canada made a deal in 2007 that will require all games sold in Quebec to be translated into French by 2009, as long as they are available in another part of the world in French as well.[55] In some cases the game includes optional French text and/or subtitles, while in other cases the game is fully translated in French complete with dubbed voice acting (as is the case with games by Montreal-basedUbisoft), which may be recorded either locally or in Europe.
Sports in Quebec constitutes an essential dimension of Quebec culture. The practice of sports and outdoor activities in Quebec was influenced largely by its geography and climate.
Ice hockey is by far the sport of choice in Quebec. The rules of the game were set up by students atMcGill University in 1875. There are many junior ice hockey teams, and one would be hard-pressed to find even the smallest community without a rink available for organized play. Institutions include the NHL'sMontreal Canadiens, the NHL's formerQuebec Nordiques, theQuebec Major Junior Hockey League, and the governing bodyHockey Québec.
Association football, known in North America as soccer,Canadian football,baseball,basketball,rugby union andvolleyball are the most practised and watched sports during the summer season in Quebec.
Cross-country skiing is very easily accessible due to the abundance of snow and an unending supply of open fields. With theLaurentian Mountains close at hand, some of the bestdownhill skiing in Canada east of theRockies is to be found in Quebec as well.
Thesnowmobile (or "skidoo"), invented in Quebec byJoseph-Armand Bombardier, is a popular hobby, though its reputation has been marred by several deaths each year. Through the 1990s, theMont Tremblant andMont Sainte-Anne ski resorts became popular destinations internationally.
Another popular pastime isice fishing. Rivers freeze over quickly come wintertime and as soon as the ice is solid enough to walk upon, one can find dozens of tiny homemade shacks (ice houses) dotting the frozen surface.
Quebec is home to many professional sports teams and events, the majority of which call Montreal home.
Québec athletes have performed well at theWinter Olympics over recent years. They won 12 ofCanada's 29 medals at the most recentWinter Olympics in Pyeongchang (2018); they won 12 of the27 Canadian medals inSochi (2014); and 9 of the26 Canadian medals inVancouver (2010).[56]
Noted Quebec athletes include:
Quebec is dominated by French-language media, although there are a small number of English-language media centred in Montreal. Quebecers also have access to Canadian English-language media, as well as media from the United States, France, and elsewhere.Québecor Média is a significant corporate presence in Quebec media; the company also controls the largeSun Media chain across Canada.
The major newspapers in Quebec include the broadsheetsLa Presse (Montreal),Le Devoir (Montreal) andLe Soleil (Quebec City), the tabloidsLe Journal de Montréal (Montreal) andLe Journal de Québec (Quebec City), and the English-language broadsheetThe Gazette (Montreal). Other smaller centres have their own newspapers, and there are also several free papers including "alternative weeklies" and daily micro-presses available in cafes and theMontreal Metro.
A number of television networks and stations broadcast in Quebec. Twopublic broadcasters broadcast over the air in French:Radio-Canada, operated by the federal government, andTélé-Québec, operated by the provincial government. Twoprivate (commercial) broadcasters broadcast over the air in French:TVA (which generally has the highest ratings of all French-language broadcasters) andNoovo. TheseQuebec television networks produce a considerable amount of their content locally, including the populartéléromans.
The three main Canadian English networks also broadcast over the air in Quebec: public broadcasterCBC and private broadcastersCTV andGlobal. These networks provide some local content, primarilynews andpublic affairs programming. Montreal'sCJNT, owned byRogers Sports & Media, is an affiliate of the English languageCitytv network, whileCFHD provides multicultural programming.
A number of networks are only available tocable and satellite subscribers. Subscribers can watch a wide range of specialized French-language TV channels. Amongst these offerings isTV5, the international French-language network. Most major Canadian English-language cable and satellite networks are also available.
Most American television networks are available in Quebec, although in some locations farther from the Canada–United States border they are not available over the air, but only on cable. ThePBS affiliates from the neighbouring states,WETK inBurlington, Vermont, andWCFE inPlattsburgh,New York, sometimes run Quebec-specific material.
Many cultural institutions were set up in Quebec in the wake of theQuiet Revolution.
Among the key institutions are:
Quebec's rich heritage of culture and history can be explored through a network of museums, which include theMusée d'art contemporain de Montréal, theMusée de la civilisation and theMusée national des beaux-arts du Québec.
Many of Quebec's artists have been educated in universities' arts faculties and specialized art schools. Notable schools include theConservatoire de musique et d'art dramatique du Québec, theÉcole nationale de théâtre du Canada and theÉcole nationale de cirque.
Quebec rewards its singers, musicians, authors, actors, directors, dancers, etc. regularly. Among the awards are:
Quebec is home to a number of unique holidays and traditions not found anywhere else.St-Jean-Baptiste Day is one of Quebec's biggest holidays. In 1977, theQuebec Parliament declared June 24, the day ofLa Saint-Jean-Baptiste, to beQuebec's National Holiday.La Saint-Jean-Baptiste, orLa St-Jean, honoursFrench Canada's patron saint,John the Baptist. On this day, the song "Gens du pays", byGilles Vigneault, is often heard. This song is commonly regarded as Quebec's unofficial anthem. Festivities occur on June 23 and 24 all over Quebec. In big cities likeQuebec City orMontreal, shows are organized in main public spaces (such as on thePlains of Abraham in Quebec City, or inMaisonneuve Park in Montreal) where several of the most popular Québécois artists sing until late at night. Festivities include parades, bonfires, fireworks, drinking, feasts, musical concerts, flag waving, contests and patriotic speeches.[57]
National Patriots' Day, a statutory holiday in Quebec, is also a unique public holiday, which honours thepatriotes who fought the British in thePatriots' War with displays of thepatriote flag, marches, music, public speeches, ceremonies and banquets.[58]Le Vieux de '37 ("The Old Man of '37") is an illustration byHenri Julien that depicts a patriot of this rebellion.[59]Le Vieux de '37 is one of the best known symbols of the rebellion and is sometimes added at the centre ofPatriote flags.
Moving Day is a tradition where leases terminate on July 1. This creates asocial phenomenon where everyone seems to be moving out at the same time.[60] TheConstruction Holiday was born out of legislation which synchronized a two-week holiday in July for the entire construction industry.[61] Other traditions include: theTemps des sucres [fr] (a time in March when people go tosugar shacks),[62] Québécoissnowbirds (people who migrate to Florida every winter),[63] and theNoël des campeurs [fr] (campgrounds celebratingChristmas in July).[64]
Quebecois can also have different ways of celebrating certain holidays. A good example is theRéveillon, a giant feast and party which takes place duringChristmas Eve andNew Year's Eve and goes on until midnight. Traditional dishes liketourtière orcipâte are offered, andrigaudon,spoon and/orviolin may be played.[65]La nuit de Jean Jabranche ("Jean Jabranche Night") is an annual holiday celebrated five days before Christmas on the evening of December 19. The night celebrates Jean Jabranche, an 18th-century folk hero who was believed to leave chocolates for children to prepare for the arrival of Père Noël five days later. The night is celebrated by leaving out branches of pine trees or sprigs of holly along with a mug of mulled wine. In turn, Jean Jabranche supposedly leaves chocolates for the children the next morning.[66]April Fools' Day is calledPoisson d'Avril ("April's Fish") because while pulling pranks is still important, there is another major tradition: sticking fish-shaped paper cutouts to people's backs without them noticing.[67] DuringHalloween, the sentence used instead of "trick-or-treat!" varies depending on the region.
In 1939, thegovernment of Quebec unilaterally ratified itscoat of arms to reflectQuebec's political history: French rule (gold lily on blue background), followed by British rule (lion on red background), followed by Canadian rule (maple leaves), and with Quebec's motto below "Je me souviens".[68]Je me souviens ("I remember") was first carved under the coat of arms of Quebec'sParliament Building in 1883.Je me souviens is an official part of the coat of arms and has been the official licence plate motto since 1978, replacing the previous one:La belle province ("the beautiful province"). The expressionLa belle province is still used as a nickname for the province. Thefleur-de-lis, one of Quebec's most common symbols, is an ancient symbol of theFrench monarchy and was first shown in Quebec on the shores ofGaspésie in 1534 whenJacques Cartier arrived in Quebec for the first time.Saint-Jean-Baptiste, thepatron saint ofCanadiens, is honoured every 24 June duringSaint-Jean-Baptiste Day. Finally, theGreat Seal of Quebec is used to authenticate documents issued by the government of Quebec.
WhenSamuel de Champlain foundedQuébec City in 1608, his ship hoisted theFrench merchant flag, which consisted of a white cross on a blue background. Later on, at theBattle of Carillon, in 1758, theFlag of Carillon was flown. This flag inspired the first members of theSaint-Jean-Baptiste Society to create theCarillon Sacré-Coeur flag, which consisted of a white cross on an azur background with white fleur-de-lis in each corner and aSacred Heart surrounded bymaple leaves in the centre. TheCarillon Sacré-Coeur andFrench merchant flag went on to be the major inspirations for Québécois when creating Quebec's current flag in 1903, called theFleurdelisé. TheFleurdelisé replaced theUnion Jack on Quebec'sParliament Building on January 21, 1948, and it has flown there ever since.
Three new official symbols were adopted in the late 1900s:
In 1998, theMontreal Insectarium sponsored a poll to choose an official insect for Quebec. Thewhite admiral butterfly (Limenitis arthemis)[72] won with 32% of the 230 660 votes. However, the white admiral was never accepted by the Government of Quebec as an official symbol.[73]
The earliest immigrants to theCanadian prairies wereFrench Canadians from Quebec. MostFranco-Albertans,Fransaskois andFranco-Manitobans are descended from these emigrants from Quebec.
From the mid-1800s to theGreat Depression, Quebec experienced theGrande Hémorragie ("Great Hemorrhaging"), a massive emigration of 900,000 people from Quebec toNew England.[74] French Canadians often established themselves inLittle Canadas in many industrial New England centers likeLowell,Lawrence andNew Bedford (Massachusetts);Woonsocket (Rhode Island);Manchester andNashua (New Hampshire);Biddeford,Brunswick andLewiston (Maine), and parts ofConnecticut, among others. Of the 900,000 Québécois who emigrated, about half returned.[75] Most of the descendants of those who stayed are nowassimilated to the generalAmerican population, though a fewFranco-Americans remain, speakingNew England French.
Some tried to slow the Grande Hémorragie by redirecting people north, which resulted in the founding of many regions in Quebec (ex.Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean,Val-d'Or, etc.) but also inNortheastern Ontario. The northeasternFranco-Ontarians of today, which are primarily concentrated inTimmins,Hearst,Moosonee andSault Sainte Marie, among others, are the descendants of emigrants from Quebec who worked in the mines of the area.[76]
In recent times, Québécoissnowbirds often migrate to southernFlorida during the winter, resulting in the emergence of temporary "Québécois regions" there. ThreeDesjardins branches exist in Florida to assist Québécois snowbirds.[77]
Quebec's 17 administrative regions each have their own quirks.[78] Inside of these administrative regions, there can often be other regions with their own character (ex.Magdalen Islands inGaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine,Nunavik inNord-du-Québec, etc.) as well as cities with their own personality (ex.Québec,Montréal, etc.).
A region of small towns and farmland south of Quebec City, its people have a strong regional identity connected with the area's long history. Some of the earliest settlements of New France were in this region.
The largeCôte-Nord region borders the northern stretch of the Saint Lawrence River. Its small-sized municipalities mainly concern themselves with the exploitation of natural resources via forestry, mining, hydroelectricity and fishing. The region is home to the famous "eye of Quebec", the massive submerged crater ofManicouagan Reservoir.[79]
This southeast region is located along the Canada–United States border (Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine). It was influenced during the 19th century byAmerican loyalists who settled there. Its main city is Sherbrooke and the region is also well known for its skiing centres (Orford, Sutton, Owl's Head, all part of the Appalachian mountains).
TheGaspé Peninsula (Gaspésie in French) borders on theMaritimes and shares its maritime culture.Acadians are a majority in many towns close to New Brunswick such asBonaventure, and some Québécois Gaspesians living in those towns have an accent very close to that of their Acadian neighbours.
The culture of the Gaspé is very much based on the sea. Tourist attractions include the shrimp industry andsalmon pass ofMatane, regional food, coastal scenery, thePercé Rock, and theChic-Choc section of theAppalachian Mountains.
Montréal, Quebec's largest city, is the second largest French-speaking city in theWestern World afterParis. The city is known for its culture, festivals, cuisine, and shopping. Montreal also has a largeEnglish-speaking andallophone population. Most immigrants to Quebec settle in Montreal, and many come from French-speaking nations.[citation needed]
A local accent is characteristic of the people ofOutaouais in western Quebec. The region includes some predominantly English-speaking villages such as Wakefield (which is part of theLa Pêche municipality), but it is generally French-speaking. The city ofGatineau lies across the Ottawa River from the city of Ottawa, and many people in the area are employed with the federal government.
Quebec City, the provincial capital (albeit dubbedLa capitale nationale, national capital, in French), is best known as the first permanent settlement and the only fortified city in North America north of Mexico. The old city, partially encircled within the centuries-old walls, is often said to have a European flair.
A region known for itsblueberries, itstourtière which is a kind of a stew inside crust, itssoupe aux gourganes and other specialties,Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean is also the birthplace of many of Quebec's public figures such as former Quebec premierLucien Bouchard, singerMario Pelchat andOlympic athleteMarc Gagnon. The accent of this region is one of the most distinctive and peculiar ones found in Quebec. The region hosts many festivals during summertime and receives many tourists.
This area is sometimes considered the heartland of the Quebec sovereigntist movement.[citation needed]
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