Quebec Winter Carnival
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The Quebec Winter Carnival (Carnaval de Québec) is held annually in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
History
The tradition of celebrating from late January to mid-February dates back to the early colonization of North America. When field work was impossible during the winter, people would gather and celebrate. In Quebec City, the first major winter carnival took place in 1894.<ref name="Vivre l'hiver au Québec">Template:Cite book</ref> The festival, meant to lift spirits during harsh winters, was interrupted by World War I, World War II and the Great Depression of 1929, and reappeared sporadically until the mid-20th century.
In 1955, under Mayor Wilfrid Hamel (1953–1965),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> a group of businesspeople relaunched the event during the slow tourism season in mid-February, just before Lent, as a way to attract visitors and investment. The first modern Quebec Winter Carnival was held in 1955, adopting the arrowed sash as its cultural symbol. Since then, the Carnival has become a major celebration for the citizens of Quebec and a key driver of winter tourism, generating tens of millions of dollars in economic impact.
Bonhomme Carnaval
Bonhomme Carnaval is the official mascot and ambassador of the Quebec Winter Carnival. White as snow and dressed in a red toque and arrowed sash—traditional attire of French Canadians—Bonhomme embodies the Québécois joie de vivre.
Bonhomme made his first public appearance on January 9, 1955, in front of Porte Saint-Louis, inviting citizens to celebrate the weeks leading up to the Carnival. At that time, Mayor Wilfrid Hamel presented him with the keys to Quebec City—a tradition that continues today as the symbolic opening of the festivities. Bonhomme has since become a symbol of winter joy and tourism known around the world.
Carnival traditions
Wearing red, singing Carnival songs, the arrowed sash, the Bonhomme effigy, and the famous caribou beverage are long-standing traditions that trace back to the Carnival’s origins.
The arrowed sash
The sash remains a cultural icon largely thanks to the Carnival. In the Template:S century, it was used to fasten coats and keep out the cold, and to support the back during physical work.
Many believe the sash technique was of Indigenous origin, but it is actually a finger-weaving craft developed by French Canadians. Indigenous peoples helped preserve it through fur trade exchanges. The Quebec finger-weaving technique is unique for producing arrow motifs rather than chevrons.
Yvette Michelin and Adèle Roy crafted Bonhomme’s 1980 sash using the traditional method.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The trumpet
The long red or blue Carnival trumpets, reaching up to 114 decibels, animate the night parades of the Quebec Winter Carnival.
The Caribou
Not to be confused with the northern caribou (reindeer), the Caribou is an alcoholic beverage that became iconic at the Voûte Chez Ti-Père bar (1964–1990) on Sainte-Thérèse Street. Popular in the 1970s and 1980s, it is a mix of port, sherry, vodka, and brandy.
The Effigy – official Carnival pass
The Effigy is one of the Carnival’s main funding sources and is required to access most official sites and activities. It bears Bonhomme’s likeness and changes design each year. Participants wear it proudly on their coats throughout the event.
The Effigy is required for visitors aged 12 and over; children under 12 enter free. It is entirely made in Quebec—from design to production using recycled maple-syrup tubing.
Events and programming
Highlights of the Carnival include:
- Night parades: Two are held each year—one in Lower Town and one in Upper Town—bringing together Quebec’s artistic community.
- Bonhomme’s Ice Palace: Built annually since 1955, the palace serves as Bonhomme’s residence and a major attraction. It has been built in various locations, including Place D’Youville, the Parliament grounds, and the Plains of Abraham.
- Quebec Government Ice Canoe Race: Teams race across the icy Saint Lawrence River between Quebec City and Lévis, a tradition dating to 1955.
- St-Hubert Snow Bath: Participants in swimsuits roll in the snow at temperatures as low as Template:Convert.
- Calgary Western Breakfast: A free outdoor breakfast of pancakes, sausages, juice, and coffee—symbolizing the sister-city relationship between Quebec and Calgary.
- Banque Scotia Sculpture Garden: A showcase of over 100 snow sculptures along Grande Allée.
- Partner Events: Festivities across the Greater Quebec area, including Île d'Orléans and Lévis.
- Musical Evenings: Concerts under a giant dome built in Quebec, featuring genres from electro to country to hip-hop.
Former activities
- Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament
- International Snow Sculpture Competition
- Bonhomme’s Ball and Queen’s Ball at the Château Frontenac
- Carnival Candle fundraiser
- Desjardins Square winter playground
- Soapbox Derby races
Themes
1970s
- 1972 – “A Carnival for Everyone”
1990s
- 1990 – “At the Heart of the World”
- 1991 – “Taming Winter”
2000s
- 2005 – “The Carnival Ignites”
- 2006 – “The Carnival Surprises”
- 2007 – “The Carnival Challenges You”
- 2008 – “The Carnival Sets the Tone”
- 2009 – “Join the Masquerade”
2010s
- 2010 – “The Carnival Makes You Dance”
- 2011 – “The Real Winter Game”
- 2012 – “The Carnival Shows Its Colors”
- 2013 – “The Star of Winter”
- 2014 – “Completely Carnival”
- 2015 – “Bonhomme’s World”
- 2016 – “My Carnival”
- 2019 – “Refreshing Carnival”
2020s
- 2020 – “Stronger than the Cold”
- 2021 – “Cold or Not, I’m Going!”
- 2022 – “Unleash Your Fun”
- 2023 – “Shake Your Pom-pom”
- 2024 – “Get Up and Get Out!”
- 2025 – “Come On, Outside!”
Queens and Duchesses
The duchesses appeared from 1955 to 1996, returned from 2014 to 2018, and were officially retired in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Statistics
About 1,400 volunteers help organize the Carnival each year.<ref name="demenagementreussi">Template:Cite news</ref>
Visitors
- 1964 – 260,000 visitors
- 1994 – 500,000 visitors, including 20% from outside Quebec
- 2008 – 1.2 million visitors during Quebec City’s 400th anniversary celebrations
- 2017 – 425,000 visitor-days
- 2018 – over 530,000 visitor-days
Economic impact
The Quebec Winter Carnival is the largest winter carnival in the world and ranks third globally in attendance, after Rio de Janeiro Carnival and New Orleans Mardi Gras. In 2008, the event drew nearly one million participants, with a budget of C$8.9 million and direct economic spinoffs of about C$48 million. Over 100 international journalists cover it annually.
Association
Since 2005, the Quebec Winter Carnival has been part of the Winter Urban Festivals Association, along with Toronto WinterCity Festival, Ottawa Winterlude, and Montréal en lumière. The goal is to share expertise and collaborate on international promotion.
Films
Books
Non-fiction
- Le Carnaval de Québec: une histoire d’amour, Georgette Lacroix (Québécor, 1984)
- Le Carnaval de Québec: la grande fête de l’hiver, Jean Provencher (Multimondes, 2003)
- La fièvre des festivals, Télé-Québec (TV documentary series)
Children’s book
- Carnaval! Mardi gras! Carnaval! by François-Pierre Gingras (Essor-Livres, 2022)
See also
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