Halfway Through Lent, a Small Quebec Island Celebrates With Masks and Jigs
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Islanders on L’Isle-aux-Coudres in Quebec participate in an annual masked celebration called Mid-Lent, or “Mi-Carême,” where masked visitors visit homes and community spots while trying to conceal their identities.
- Participants wear wigs, hats, and pillows under heavy coats to disguise their bodies and perform jigs to reveal their identity through distinctive dance moves.
- The tradition, rooted in medieval France, continues in select French-speaking areas of Canada, including small islands in the St. Lawrence River.
- The celebration involves music, with hosts playing spoons, guitars, and button accordions to encourage dancers to "let loose" and reveal themselves.
- L’Isle-aux-Coudres, where the event takes place, is accessible only by ferry from the mainland, preserving its unique cultural heritage.
