While traveling in Québec for our 10th anniversary 2 weeks ago, hubby and I started playing “I spy” because there were so many Louisiana names, shapes, or cultural things that kept grabbing our attention.
I didn’t think it was possible, but the Fleur de Lis is probably used more there than here. It is the official symbol of the province of Québec, and it’s on everything from buildings, to road signs, to business cards, to clothing. I’ve been to France a few times, and I’ve never seen the Fleur de Lis used as much as it is in Nola or Québec. I assume it’s because France considers the Fleur de Lis a symbol of it’s old monarchy – something they famously beheaded – so they don’t need it anymore. But in Québec, much like in Louisiana, it has become a symbol of cultural pride. It’s like saying, hey, being Canadian (or American) isn’t ALL that I am. There are more Québec province flags flying there than Canadian national ones, and that felt pretty familiar.
The city names and street signs were fun too. Usually they were named for the same people or same reasons you’d see them in New Orleans. For instance, we drove through a town called Orleans in Vermont near the border, and then an Île d’Orléans sitting in the St Lawrence river near Québec City. Both were named for the Duke of Orleans at the time of their founding. There were dozens of similar names, and I’m sure I ran up a hefty iPhone international data bill looking up history.
In Québec City there is a neighborhood called St Roch. There is a Hotel Dieu, an Ursuline Convent, and a St Augustine Monastery. There are streets named De La Salle, St Anne, and St Stanislaus. They celebrate Carnival, but it looks very different, and they use a lot of Catholic cursing like us, but in French.
Going to Québec felt like meeting a long lost sibling – genetics made us similar, but upbringing made us very different. To see all the “I spy” photos, check out my Flickr set.
There was a a parade to kick off Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France, which celebrates the founding of “New France” every year with a reenactment style festival. Louisiana was actually part of New France before Napoleon sold us, so our state flag was included in the parade and some Cajun bands played at the festival too. I think next year we should send them a real Nola Krewe to represent us, like the 610 Stompers. Muahahaha.
It’s a Saints sign! Oh no, wait, it’s a bar sign for french fries with gravy.
Finally, you know you’ve lived in New Orleans a long time if you remember the symbol below. Looks like National Canal-Villere is satanic in Canada, and has a rather awkward name.
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LOVE it! Thanks for sharing.