WEDDING
My informant tells me that there was no wedding without the man asking the young woman's father for her hand in marriage. When there was a wedding, the future spouses went to church with their witnesses. There was no big parade like there is today. Only the bride and groom, their witnesses, and their parents were present. The most popular day was Tuesday around seven in the morning.
It was very rare to see the bride wearing a long dress. It was more likely to be a dress that she could wear again afterwards. The most popular color at the time was blue. Only the bride wore a ring. My informant points out that a bride who had a twelve-dollar ring had an expensive ring. If the wedding took place during the summer, the bride had a bouquet made of wildflowers. If the wedding took place in the fall or winter, she had a bouquet made of crepe paper flowers. The groom, for his part, had a white carnation made of fabric. He had purchased this boutonniere in the neighboring town.
The families of the bride and groom prepared food for a week. On the wedding day, the bride's parents prepared lunch for the immediate family on both sides. When the brides did not go for a tour of the city, there was a dinner at the groom's parents' house for all the relatives, neighbors, and friends. There was also a supper at the bride's parents' house with parents, neighbors, and friends. These meals were always good hot meals with pie and pastries such as molasses cookies, doughnuts, and let's not forget that at one of these meals there was a three-tiered wedding cake.
There was an evening party at the home of either the parents or a friend. At these parties, there was music played on wind instruments, the violin, singing, etc. The evening almost always ended with dancing, even though it was sometimes forbidden by the priest. Alcohol was rare, and what there was came from the home.
Sometimes people played tricks on the newlyweds. They would tie old cans behind the car that was driving the newlyweds. This car was often borrowed from a friend. If the newlyweds couldn't get a car, they would use a horse and the cans would be tied to the back of the cart.
Among the gifts given to the newlyweds were useful items such as glasses, pillowcases, pie plates, bread dishes, dishcloths, etc.
DEATH
My informant tells me that the deceased was buried by members of the parish. If the deceased's house was not large enough, he was placed in a neighbor's house. The deceased was laid out in the best room of the house. A large white sheet was hung on the wall where the deceased would be laid out. The deceased was placed on boards mounted on three barrels. He was covered with a large white sheet except for his face, which was covered with a small piece of white cloth. When people entered, they could remove the piece of cloth covering the face if they wished.
When the piece of cloth was removed, it could be seen that the eyes were kept closed by two black cloths and the mouth by a piece of cloth that passed just below the chin and was tied at the back of the head.
There was always a candle burning. The dead person was watched over all night long and the rosary was said every hour. The dead person was laid out for two days. At midnight, a snack was served. Bologna, bread, molasses cookies, sugar cookies, and tea were served.
The coffin was made by a carpenter from the parish. Once it was finished, the deceased was placed in it for the funeral. The coffin was black on the outside and white on the inside for adults, and all white for children. The deceased was transported to the church by horse or by a parishioner's small truck.
The church was decorated in black if the family could afford to pay fifty dollars. If they couldn't afford it, there was very little decoration. There were no flowers as there are today. The priest also wore black. The amount paid also included a high mass called a “requiem mass.” If the fee was not paid, a low mass was sung. The funeral songs were usually sung by two people from the parish. My informant notes that the song “Libéra” made everyone cry. Almost all the parishioners attended the funeral. The wife of the deceased wore a hat covered with a black veil. In addition, she and her immediate family had to wear black for a year. The husband or wife had to refrain from attending any social gatherings for the following two years. Parents and children had to do so for a year, and brothers and sisters for six months.
The grave was dug with a pickaxe and shovel in both winter and summer. The grave was usually marked with a wooden cross.
When the anniversary service was held, there was a wooden box in the shape of a coffin covered with a catafalque at the front of the altar: commonly known as the funeral cloth. This catafalque was a large black cloth with a cross in the center.
CHRISTMAS
My informant tells me that for them, the most important part of Christmas was midnight mass. If they lived far from the church, they had to walk there. My informant left home around eight o'clock so she would have time to go to confession. If there was no moonlight, they brought a flashlight. Midnight Mass was followed by two other masses, including dawn mass. The three masses were enlivened by beautiful Christmas carols. Le Minuit Chrétien was sung at the stroke of midnight by an old man from the parish who had been singing for over twenty years. The church was full and everyone stayed for all three masses. After Mass, we would wish each other a Merry Christmas on the church steps with a handshake and a little kiss.
Back home around three o'clock, we would have a Christmas Eve dinner with meat pâté.
On Christmas Day, the exchange of gifts was rather rare. If it did happen, it was mainly with food, jars of jam, etc. The children were happy with their new clothes made from old ones.
The children hung their Christmas stockings in the kitchen near the stove. Inside the stockings, they would sometimes find an orange, an apple, cream candies, mittens, a notebook, a pencil, a slate, etc. Toys were very rare.
On Christmas Day, the family would gather for dinner, which consisted of poultry, and for dessert we had chocolate cake, which we only saw at Christmas, and steamed pudding. In the afternoon, we would visit relatives. In the evening, friends would gather in a house for entertainment with music, singing, etc.
Not every home had a Christmas tree, perhaps due to lack of space or money for decorations. The decorations we see today were not common then.
NEW YEAR
My informant tells me that they would first stay up to see out the old year, which they called “chu de l'an,” with music, dancing, and card games. At midnight, everyone would kiss each other and wish each other “a happy new year and paradise at the end of your days.” These wishes were extended to all acquaintances.
On New Year's Day morning, everyone who could attended mass.
The New Year's Day dinner brought together all the family members who could attend. The menu was the same as at Christmas, except in some homes where they made poutines râpées.
After the meal, we would harness the horses to the carriage or sleigh and go around the town singing Christmas and New Year songs. We would start by visiting our grandparents and close relatives, not forgetting our godparents. Each house had its own treat. Often it was assorted candies and homemade wine, sometimes made from blueberries, blackberries, beets, etc. The wine was made in the summer so it would be ready for winter.
In the evening, we would gather in someone's house to listen to mouth harp music, violin music, and singing. We would visit the relatives and friends we hadn't seen on New Year's Day on Three Kings Day.
MARDI GRAS
My informant tells me that Mardi Gras was also a special day. People would gather in a house for music, dancing, and special foods such as shredded poutine, cream sugar, taffy, etc. But when midnight struck, everyone would go home so they wouldn't eat any more sweets or dance. We would say the rosary before leaving. During Lent, it was truly a time of penance for us. The church was filled on Ash Wednesday and every Wednesday and Friday thereafter for the Stations of the Cross.
Holy Week was also observed, beginning on Holy Thursday with church services. Good Friday was like a Sunday (at that time). We kept silence from noon to 3 p.m. (the time of Jesus' ascent to Calvary and death). Holy Saturday was a day of fasting and abstinence until noon, and then Lent was over. The Easter celebrations began. Many families still gathered for Easter dinner.
Every day during Lent except Sunday, everyone between the ages of 21 and 65 had to fast, which meant 3 ounces of bread in the morning, a large dinner, and 7 ounces of bread in the evening.
HALLOWEEN
My informant tells me that Halloween was eagerly awaited. Of course, the children dressed up in costumes, and even the adults did too. They dressed up in old clothes and masks. But not everyone was happy to see them. They watched passersby with sticks in their hands or even pots of urine. That has changed a lot today; almost everyone has their doors open. The most popular treats were apples, cream sugar, and taffy. Some people didn't go door to door for treats, but to play tricks. They would remove fences and let animals out. Some even went so far as to steal chickens to make fricot.
Informant: Jeanne Savoie
Interviewer: Gilles Manuel
University Project (11 novembre 1988)