Festivities of yesteryear told by north-coastal elders

Seniors from the North Shore delve into their memories and talk about their Christmas evenings of yesteryear, but also the magic that preceded them. Snowboard rides, wild dances and family reunions enliven these old-fashioned evenings.

The stories of elders from the region, more specifically from Manicouagan, highlight certain traditions and particularities of the North Shore during the holiday season. Far from lasting just one evening, the festivities were prepared days, even weeks in advance, and still bring smiles decades later.

Brave the paths

Even before being able to reach their own, the North Coasters had to face fewer and more hazardous roads than today. However, an exceptional car allowed families to arrive safely, as Angéline Lepage recounts.

At that time, the roads were not open in winter. Our first Christmas on the North Shore, we didn't think we'd have any visitors. But suddenly she came in snow!recalls Angéline Lepage, remembering what she describes as the ancestor of the snowmobile.

Some instead used animals to get to their destination. We hitched our dog onto a sled and went to the village. We left the dog there, we didn't even tie it up. He was waiting for us before leavingrelates for her part Égide Bergeron.

In the Innu community of Pessamit, elder Robert Dominique explains that the paths were also few and difficult to navigate in the winter conditions. Most members of the community traveled on foot, but some did so on horseback.

New families

For some North Coasters, family reunions have changed between their childhood and their adult life. Many adopted the region after coming there for work, and shared their holiday season with new loved ones.

This is the case of Égide Bergeron, originally from the town of Normandin in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. The man who is now 86 years old swapped his native land for the North Shore to follow his wife in 1961.

He found a job with a welcoming concrete company that welcomed him with open arms. It was family, there was only me as a foreigner when I started working there. During the holidays, we went to eat with them. They accepted us into the familyremembers Égide Bergeron.

Others, like Solange Bossé, arrived in the region younger. Originally from Saint-Quentin in New Brunswick, the adopted Nord-Côtière took up residence in Hauterive with her family at the age of five. My life is here, like my Christmases have always been hereshe proclaims.

Apples, oranges and surprises

On December 24, the excitement of preparations gives way to celebrations. Once everyone is gathered, the children impatiently wait for the presents to be opened.

With her brothers and sisters, Angéline Lepage hung woolen stockings on a rope installed by her mother behind the stove. His mother normally put oranges, apples and candy in it, except one year when she played a trick on her children.

At the bottom of the bottom, there were potato peels! Like I haven't been nice all year. It was to strangle mementions Angéline Lepage with a laugh.

Although this prank marked her, one present in particular still warms her heart today. My sister wanted to surprise me: she gave me a doll. For me it was gold! I was six years old, and I still remember it even though I'm now 85Angéline Lepage is moved.

Time for music!

For many homes, music was essential to brighten up the evenings. In Pessamit, Robert Dominique attended masses without fail, during which a choir presented Innu songs. The 82-year-old himself was part of a choir with his wife for 15 years.

Instruments also punctuated the evenings. There was the organ, and there were many violin players, including my father. There were dance evenings during the holiday period, what we call Canadian dances. It attracted a lot of people. They were magical momentshe mentions.

Roberte Lapointe also has precious memories of the violin during the holidays, since her husband played it. His father showed him how to play rigodons at the age of 7. After that at 30, he started classical violin, and he was good! Afterwards he returned to traditional musicshe argues.

While he was swinging his bow, Roberte Lapointe took over the dance floor. If I had my husband with me, I would still dance. And we danced together when he wasn't on the violinshe confides.