QUEBEC CARNIVAL SYMBOLISM

The most famous symbol of Carnaval is Le Bonhomme. His outfit includes a black-buttoned white coat, white mittens, a red cap and an arrow head traditional sash.One month before Carnaval, Le Bonhomme arrives to receive the keys of the city and becomes master of Québec.Le Bonhomme presides as host at all Carnaval festivities, dances, parties, contests and events.

The arrowhead sash has remained a symbol in Quebecois society In the 19th century, this belt was used to tie jackets at the waist to prevent the cold from creeping in. It also supported the kidneys in moments of physical effort. It was both a practical and fashionable accessory, worn by both the bourgeois and the peasants.

The best way to warm up is to move and dance, and to put you in the mood, nothing works better than the long red trumpets carnival-goers toot throughout the parade circuits.

 

Québec City is divided into seven duchés during Carnaval time. Traditionally the Carnaval queen was chosen through the sale of candles. Candles are sold before the Carnaval and their sales help finance all the Carnaval events which are free to the public. Buying a candle gives the purchaser a chance to win many valuable prizes. For every candle sold, a ticket is put into a barrel and on the opening night of Carnaval, names are drawn from the barrel. The first duchess to have her name pulled five times becomes La Reine du Carnaval.

 

 Place Carnaval is the location of the magnificent Ice Palace and also the area where many of the Carnaval activities take place. At Place Carnaval, Carnaval is officially opened and the Queen is crowned.

History records that in the First Crusade Bohemund I, a Norman lord, had red crosses cut from his mantles and distributed to the 10,000 crusaders, who wore them as a distinctive badge on their garments.
In subsequent crusades, each nation was distinguished by a cross of a different colour. France long had a red cross on its banners while England used a white cross. In the course of history, red and white alternated as the national colours of France and England.
Hence red colour has been used for the cap and the sash.