Discover

The 'National Patriotes Day' (French ''Journée nationale des Patriotes'') commemorates the memory of Lower Canada Patriots' heritage in the Canadian province of Quebec. It is celebrated in that province on the Monday preceding May 25, the same day as Victoria Day, a Canadian Statutory Holiday. The holiday now officially commemorates the memory of patriots who struggled for democratic institutions during the Lower Canada Rebellion, part of the Rebellions of 1837-1838.
Because many Quebecois did not wish to celebrate Canada's ties to the British monarchy, a competing celebration was set up on Victoria Day. In 1918, almost two decades after the first celebration of Victoria Day, the ''Fête de Dollard'' was set up by Lionel Groulx, in honour of a 17th century French settler who was killed trying to defend a French settlement against Iroquois attackers. The day later became a statutory holiday under both federal and provincial legislation.
The celebration was changed to ''Journée nationale des Patriotes'' in 2002, in part because the myth of Dollard des Ormeaux lost its appeal to Quebec youth over the generations, and because of questions over its historical accuracy.

Contents

See also

See also

★ History of Quebec

★ Timeline of Quebec history

★ Patriote movement

★ Quebec nationalism

★ Quebec independence movement