| | mi-carême 2008 - February 24th - 29th |
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It's time to celebrate La Mi-Carême
by: Daniel Aucoin
La Mi-Carême literally means the middle of Lent, the third Thursday of the forty days of fasting and penance for Easter. It is an ancient tradition developed in France to give everyone an opportunity to celebrate and escape his or her Lenten duties. Brought in North America by the French settlers, La Mi-Carême has survived in only four French communities: l’Ile-aux-Grues and Natashquan in Québec, Fatima in the Magdelan Islands and Chéticamp/Saint-Joseph-du-Moine in Nova Scotia.
During Mi-Carême week, the people of the area, alone or in small groups, disguise themselves and go from house to house to visit family and friends. It’s the job of the Mi-Carêmes to change their voice and mannerism so as to mystify their hosts, and it is the tasks of the householder to guess the identity under the masks and costumes. The success and pleasure is that much greater when the Mi-Carêmes succeed in chattering, dancing and making gestures without being recognized by their close relatives and friends. The guessing game involves music, food and plenty of amusement.
For over 200 years now, our Acadian region in Inverness County has successfully kept La Mi-Carême alive and vibrant. During the time of our ancestors, they celebrated this special tradition with a one-day break to relieve people from the sacrifices of Lent. Now the people of the area run La Mi-Carême for an entire week. It is not uncommun for people in this region and some of our people who are away to schedule their vacation during this week so as to not miss a moment of the festivities.Numerous houses are prepared and open while the owners wait in anticipation for the visit of the Mi-Carêmes on a daily basis. The entire community gets involved ; organization and businesses host special activities during the week which revolve around this special tradition.
About twenty families from this area still welcome Mi-Carêmes in their homes each year. Festivities begin this Sunday evening, February 24th with «Laissons rentrer les Mi-Carêmes». Many special events are planned at Le Centre LeMoine during the week. A pancake breakfast will be held at Le Foyer Père Fiset. Le Gala de la Mi-Carême will close the festivities on Saturday evening, March 1st.
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