December is a majestic spectacle, borne by Québec Issime, that highlights traditional Québec culture, particularly that associated with contact with winter. It’s a hit with the public.
But the Place des Arts decided to close after 20 years of performances by not renewing the show just as its promoters had made a massive investment to improve it.
How do you explain it? I will not speculate on the financial reasons that could animate the PdA.
traditions
But I allow myself to see in this sacrifice a symptom of the troubled relationship that a certain elite has with the deepest traditions of Quebec, which immerse us in our long memory, that of a people long rooted and preoccupied with their land was to survive , but which has always been characterized by a genuine joie de vivre, recognizable in the early years of New France. Our moderns want to throw this profound Quebec overboard. In many ways, they’ve been doing it for a long time.
This reminds me of a story I’ve been told many times that seems to happen frequently.
Every year, young Quebecers are invited on humanitarian trips. They go to the other end of the world. And discover other young people from all over the world.
It’s time to celebrate. Everyone goes there with traditional songs from their homeland.
Then it’s the Quebecers’ turn.
Who often don’t know a traditional song.
Who often know nothing about their cultural traditions.
Storage
They sing the excellent song Degenerations, by Mes aïeux, best, because it sounds “traditional”. But they don’t know how to go beyond that.
I am not blaming you. But I resent those who uprooted them.
And I can’t help but think it’s not unrelated to the bad fate reserved for Quebec Issime.
