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Québec’s Winter Carnival

At the beginning of the 1890s, the economic downturn greatly affected the region of Québec City. In October 1893, Frank Carrel, owner of the Québec Daily Telegraph, put forth the idea of a winter carnival. The event opened at the end of January 1894, with an ice palace in front of the Parliament. A gigantic masquerade with 3000 costumed participants, various sports competitions, concerts, ice sculptures, a night parade and a fireworks display are all part of the festivities. After a successful initial experience, the event took place again in 1896 and many more times until 1939. Seen as a way to overcome the economic hardships of the post-war years, the first modern Carnival was organized in 1955.

During the Carnival, people have fun and dance around like they did in traditional dance parties to music made by trumpets, fiddles and drums. Dances like the polka or waltz, later replaced by rock’n’roll and disco in the following decades, were frowned upon by the clergy who considered them a bit daring.

In 1956 and during the following years, the Carnival grew in size. An increasing number of visitors came to Québec to participate in the event. The Carnival took on an international dimension, with tourists coming from around the world. From the 1990s and on, Québec’s Winter Carnival became more family-oriented.

The Québec Winter Carnival Song

Performed for the first time by Pierrette Roy in 1955, the song called Carnaval, Mardi gras officially opens the festivities. The singer was actually the one who suggested to Roger Vézina, son of composer and conductor Joseph Vézina, who was also head of Québec’s Chamber of Commerce and one of the Carnival’s organizers, to compose a song for the event. Also at Pierrette’s Roy’s request, Pierre Petel took care of the music. The Québec Winter Carnival’s song was born.

Carnival, Mardi Gras, Carnival
It’s Québec’s greatest festival
Carnival, Mardi Gras, Carnival
Let’s all sing for a joyous Carnival

In Québec city, it begins merrily
By the great and joyous deployment
Of drums, trumpets and glitter
You would see in real crowning

From the heights of Québec or Lévis
Trough Sainte-Foy or Sillery
Forget your troubles
Everyone votes for their queen

Our beautiful girls fight over
The kingdom of Québec and its hills
We put an end to the quarrel at the end of January
By playing the flute for the chosen one

Once New Year’s Day and  Epiphany are celebrated
A costumed snowman comes to us
We hand him the city’s keys
And his image calls for a tag day

In honour of Bonhomme Carnaval
Everyone does exceptional things
For the ball, the women take out
Old corsets with stays

Great receptions are given in Québec
We walk through the parades in the streets
We dance around in drag in clubs
Parties in the night we see

Everywhere in the snow and ice
Parents and children set up
Monuments and two-faced snowmen
That delight passersby until March

From skating to “gouret” (a game that is between hockey and ringette)
We play every sport without fail
Some know all the secrets of snowshoeing
While others are experts with skis or a broom

Dog or marmoset races
Canoes engulfed in ice
Racers in badly driven boats
We see it all in Québec

Championships or Mardi Gras receptions
We frolic in the great  outdoors
And see people from all over Canada
Come running to sing merrily