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National Patriotes Day

The National Patriotes' Day (French: Journée nationale des Patriotes) is a paid statutory holiday observed annually in Quebec, Canada, on the Monday preceding May 25. Since 2003, Quebecers take advantage of this paid day "to underline the importance of the struggle of the patriots of 1837-1838 for the recognition of [their] nation, its political freedom and the establishment of a democratic government". Before 2003, the Monday preceding May 25 of each year was the Fête de Dollard, a commemoration initiated in the 1920s to compete with Victoria Day, which occurs on the same day in other Canadian provinces.

History

In 1937, the Fêtes du centenaire de 1837, organized by citizens of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu, commemorated "the struggles of the Patriots of 1837-1838 for liberty, the national recognition of our people and for democracy". The festivities took place on various sites on the territory of Québec. Some citizens produced various objects in souvenir of the event such as a 48-page book entitled Programme-souvenir : Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu, le dimanche, 19 septembre 1937. Hommage aux Patriotes de 1837 à Montebello, en octobre 1937, an 8-page souvenir-album entitled Souvenir des fêtes du centenaire de 1837 à St-Denis-sur-Richelieu, P.Q., Canada, 28-29 août 1937, and another one of 20 pages entitled Album-souvenir : hommage des citoyens du comté des Deux-Montagnes aux patriotes de 1837, à Saint-Eustache, 10 octobre 1937.

In 1962, year of the 125th anniversary of 1837, occurred the first of an uninterrupted series of yearly gatherings at Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu.

On October 6, 1982, the Government of Quebec proclaimed Journée des Patriotes the Sunday closest to November 23 in order to "honour the memory of the Patriots who struggled for the national recognition of our people, for its political liberty and to obtain a democratic system of government".

The desire that the Journée des Patriotes be commemorated by a paid holiday incited some citizens to campaign for a new statutory holiday or for the replacement of an existing one. The Club Souverain de l'Estrie started the movement "For a paid holiday in memory of the Patriots" in 1987. Other civil organizations later joined in the campaign such as the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society of Montreal and the Comité du 15 février 1839, founded in 1997 to help the financing of 15 février 1839, a movie by Pierre Falardeau. During the National Congress of the Parti Québécois held from May 5 to 7, 2000, members adopted a resolution inviting the government to "decree a paid holiday in memory of the Patriots of 1837-1838 in replacement of an existing holiday.

It is finally by the replacement of the Fête de Dollard that the Journée des Patriotes obtained its own paid holiday. The moving from November to May was motivated by the will to highlight the starting point of the numerous public meetings organized by citizens throughout Lower Canada from May to November 1837.

Timeline

2003 - On May 19, the first celebration of the National Patriotes' Day occurs.
2002 - On November 20, Order in Council 1322-2002 proclaims that the Journée des Patriotes, henceforth known as the National Patriotes' Day, will be the Monday preceding May 25 in replacement of the Fête de Dollard.
2001 - On November 21, MNA Bernard Landry proposes a motion inviting the National Assembly "to underline the importance of struggle of the patriots of 1837-1838 for the recognition of our nation, its political freedom and the establishment of a democratic government".
2000 - During the National Congress of the Parti Québécois held on May 5-7, members adopt a resolution inviting the government to "decree a paid holiday in memory of the Patriots of 1837-1838 in replacement of an existing holiday."
1982 - On October 6, the Government of Quebec proclaims Journée des Patriotes the Sunday closest to November 23 of each year.
1937 - The fêtes du centenaire de 1837: citizens of the region of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu and elsewhere in Québec unite to "commemorate the struggles of the Patriots of 1837-1838 for Liberty, the national recognition of our people and for democracy".

Notes

References

In English

" An Act respecting labour standards - article 60", in CanLII, updated on May 1st, 2008, retrieved May 31, 2008
" Highlights of Major Developments in Labour Legislation (2002-2003)", in the site of Human Resources and Social Development Canada, modified September 22, 2004, retrieved May 31, 2008