Quebec

===Holidays and symbols===
{{Main|Symbols of Quebec}}
[[St-Jean-Baptiste Day]] is one of Quebec's biggest holidays. In 1977, the [[Quebec Parliament]] declared June 24, the day of {{lang|fr|La Saint-Jean-Baptiste}}, to be [[Quebec's National Holiday]]. {{lang|fr|La Saint-Jean-Baptiste}}, or {{lang|fr|La St-Jean}}, honours [[French Canada]]'s patron saint, [[John the Baptist]]. On this day, the song "[[Gens du pays]]", by [[Gilles Vigneault]], is often heard. The song ''[[À la claire fontaine]]''<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=À la claire fontaine|encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia|url=http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/a-la-claire-fontaine-emc/|accessdate=July 6, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806082946/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0000031|archivedate=August 6, 2011|author=Plouffe, Hélène|url-status=live}}</ref> was the anthem of the [[New France]], [[Patriote movement|Patriots]] and [[French Canadian]], then replaced by ''[[O Canada]]'', but "Gens du pays" is preferred by many Quebecers to be the national anthem of Quebec.

[[National Patriots' Day]], a statutory holiday in Quebec, is also a unique public holiday, which honours the [[Patriote movement|patriotes]] with displays of the [[patriote flag]], music, public speeches, and ceremonies.<ref name="law2">{{cite periodical|title=Décret no 1322-2002 concernant la Journée nationale des Patriotes|url=http://www2.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/dynamicSearch/telecharge.php?type=1&file=39585.PDF|volume=134|page=8463|accessdate=January 12, 2013|periodical=[[Gazette officielle du Québec]]|series=partie II|number=50}}</ref> ''[[Le Vieux de '37]]'' ("The Old Man of '37"), an illustration by [[Henri Julien]] that depicts a patriot of this rebellion,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://150ans150oeuvres.uqam.ca/fr/oeuvre/1970-un-vieux-de-37-de-henri-julien/#description|title=Une vieux de 37 de Henri Julien|publisher=UQAM|accessdate=September 12, 2021|archive-date=September 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917185047/https://150ans150oeuvres.uqam.ca/fr/oeuvre/1970-un-vieux-de-37-de-henri-julien/#description|url-status=dead}}</ref> is sometimes added at the centre of [[Patriote flags]]. [[Moving Day (Quebec)|Moving Day]] is a tradition where leases terminate on July 1. This creates a [[social phenomenon]] where everyone seems to be moving out at the same time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://immigrantquebec.com/fr/actualites/actualites/1er-juillet-grand-demenagement-montreal |title=Jour du grand demenagement|work=immigrantquebec.com|accessdate=September 12, 2021}}</ref>

Other distinct holiday traditions include the [[Réveillon]], a giant feast and party which takes place during [[Christmas Eve]] and [[New Year's Eve]] and goes on until midnight. Traditional dishes like [[tourtière]] or [[Sea-pie|cipâte]] are offered, and [[rigaudon]], [[Spoon (musical instrument)|spoon]] or [[violin]] may be played.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bv.cdeacf.ca/bvdoc.php?no=23309&col=RA&format=htm |title=Le temps des fêtes au Québec|accessdate=September 12, 2021|website=cdeacf.ca}}</ref> Finally, [[April Fools' Day]] is called ''Poisson d'Avril'' ("April's Fish") because while pulling pranks is still important, there is another major tradition: sticking fish-shaped paper cutouts to people's backs without them noticing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collegecdi.ca/quebec/connectez-vous/actualites/quelles-sont-les-origines-du-poisson-d-avril/ |title=Quelles sont les origines du Poisson d'Avril|accessdate=September 12, 2021|website=collegcdi.ca}}</ref>

In 1939, the [[government of Quebec]] unilaterally ratified its [[Coat of arms of Quebec|coat of arms]] to reflect [[History of Quebec|Quebec's political history]]: French rule (gold lily on blue background), followed by British rule (lion on red background), followed by Canadian rule (maple leaves).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drapeau.gouv.qc.ca/ |website=Justice Québec|title=Drapeauet et symboles nationaux|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009212247/http://www.drapeau.gouv.qc.ca/|archivedate=October 9, 2007|language=fr}}</ref> [[Je me souviens]] ("I remember") is an official part of the coat of arms and has been the official licence plate motto since 1978, replacing the previous motto: ''La belle province'' ("the beautiful province"), still used as a nickname for the province. The [[fleur-de-lis]], one of Quebec's most common symbols, is an ancient symbol of the [[French monarchy]]. Finally, the [[Great Seal of Quebec]] is used to authenticate documents issued by the government of Quebec.

The first members of the [[Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society]] created the ''Carillon Sacré-Coeur'' flag, which consisted of a white cross on an azure background with white fleur-de-lis in each corner and a [[Sacred Heart#Sacred Heart imagery|Sacred Heart]] surrounded by [[Maple leaf|maple leaves]] in the centre; it was based on the French merchant flag flown by Champlain and the [[Flag of Carillon]]. The ''Carillon Sacré-Coeur'' and French merchant flag went on to be the major inspirations for creating Quebec's current flag in 1903, called the ''[[Fleurdelisé]]''. The ''Fleurdelisé'' replaced the [[Union Jack]] on Quebec's [[Parliament Building (Quebec)|Parliament Building]] on January 21, 1948.

Three new official symbols were adopted in the late 20th century:

* ''[[Iris versicolor]]'', the floral emblem of Quebec since 1999. It was chosen because it blooms around the time of Quebec's Fête nationale.<ref name="Qsymbols2">{{cite web|author=Quebec Portal|date=May 7, 2015|title=Quebec's Symbols|url=https://www.sqrc.gouv.qc.ca/representation-quebec-canada/le-quebec/symboles-en.asp|accessdate=August 27, 2020|publisher=Government of Quebec}}</ref>
* The [[snowy owl]], the avian emblem of Quebec since 1987. It was selected by the Quebec government to symbolize Quebec's winters and northern climate.<ref name="Qsymbols2" />
* The [[yellow birch]], the tree emblem of Quebec since 1993. It was picked to emphasize the importance Québécois give to the forests.<ref name="Qsymbols2" />

<gallery widths="200px" heights="155px">
File:St-Jean!042.jpg|[[St-Jean-Baptiste Day]] celebrations at Maisonneuve park in Montréal
File:Flag-of-Quebec.jpg|The [[Flag of Quebec|Fleurdelisé]] flying at [[Place d'Armes]] in Montreal
</gallery>