What are the holidays in the province of Quebec
Note: this post is a duplicate. The updated and maintained version is at What are the holidays in the province of Quebec.
Holidays in the province of Quebec vs Canada
I know it seems strange to make this distinction, but few people know about the cultural differences between the province of Quebec and the rest of Canada. Therefore, it is good to inform first-timers that the French-speaking province is different from the rest of Canada not only in the spoken language (French), but also in holidays.
A curiosity about holidays in Canada (which also applies to Quebec) is the fact that all holidays that fall on weekends (usually Sundays) are automatically moved to the subsequent Monday. Something that definitely makes much more sense, but unfortunately is not adopted in Brazil.
Holidays in Canada and Quebec are also considered paid days off, so if you have to work on those days, be aware, because the amount paid for your hour of work will not be the same. Usually they will be listed in your employment contract, a somewhat weird thing in my opinion.
 Important tip!The Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) provides you with monCalcul, a tool that helps to determine the amounts an employee is entitled to according to their remuneration method. |
Religious influences on holidays in the province of Quebec
Since the province was the first colony to be born in the freezing northern lands, even before the English set foot in what would one day be called Canada, all French religious culture came along in their ships and, as a consequence, the first embryo of a nation called New France was born in the region known today as Quebec.
Catholic as such, France left a huge legacy of religious traditions in the early days of Quebec’s foundation, which, by the way, are very similar to our Brazilian Catholicism. There is no shortage of churches to prove this. In Montreal alone, there are 600 of them.
READ ALSO: “Quebec for newly arrived Brazilians: Tips about the local culture”
On the other hand, colonies born as a result of the expansion of northern territories by the English were also strongly influenced by Anglicanism, leaving most of Canada under the domain of Protestantism.
The War
The conflicts between the French and English colonies also created distinct commemorative dates, since by losing the Seven Years’ War, Quebec was annexed to the English domain, becoming part of Canada.
For this reason, there is a rift between Quebec and the other provinces due to the lack of recognition of English sovereignty. That is why Quebec has a reputation for being separatist. They have already tried to separate from the rest of Canada at least three times in history. All without success.
List of holidays in the province of Quebec
01. New Year’s Day
Name in Quebec: Jour de l’An
When: January 1st
This one needs no introduction, it is universal in almost all countries of the world and could not be left out of the list of holidays in Quebec.
02. Good Friday and Easter
Name in Quebec: Vendredi saint et le lundi de Pâques
When: Varies every year - Check this calendar
This is at the discretion of your employer to grant one or the other or even both. As explained at the beginning of the post, this is a Catholic holiday and carries enormous weight in the province of Quebec.
03. National Patriots’ Day
Name in Quebec: Journée nationale des patriotes
This holiday is celebrated only in Quebec because it is a day in memory of the Quebecois soldiers who fought during the war against English rule. It always falls on a Monday before May 25th.
| Bridged days Long weekends, which we are used to in Brazil, are also popular in Canada; however, Canadians take this quite seriously. When a holiday occurs on a Saturday or Sunday, it is common to transfer it to Monday. |
04. Quebec National Holiday
Name in Quebec: Fête nationale du Québec
When it will be this year: June 24th
Day of the national holiday of Quebec, where Quebecois culture is celebrated and also another important religious holiday, that of Saint John the Baptist, patron saint of the province. To the happiness of northeasterners like me, it is the same Saint John holiday of my city.
05. Canada Day
Name in Quebec: Fête du Canada
When: July 1st
The only federal holiday adopted by the province of Quebec, usually when the date falls on a Sunday the celebration is moved to the 2nd on a Monday. Remember the rift I mentioned at the beginning of the post? Well, since a good part of the Quebec population does not recognize this date due to ideological issues, the day passes like any other normal day, without parties or celebrations.
Instead, the culture of the national moving day was created in protest against Canada Day. On this date (the day all leases are signed and renewed) it is common to see hundreds of moving trucks driving around the city with people going back and forth carrying furniture.
06. Labour Day
Name in Quebec: Fête du Travail
This is also a holiday that needs no introduction, as it is celebrated in many countries. Canada and the USA share the same date which is always celebrated on the first Monday of September. As Brazilians, we are used to always celebrating the date on May 1st.
Holiday 07 - Thanksgiving Day
Name in Quebec: Action de grâces
Always celebrated on the 2nd Monday of October. This is a typical holiday of English religious culture that was incorporated into Quebec.
08. Christmas
Name in Quebec: Jour de Noël
When: December 25th
Let’s agree that this one needs no introduction, right?
READ ALSO: “Quebec for newly arrived Brazilians: Tips about the local culture”
And they still say that Brazil has a lot of holidays. Adding up all the long weekends and bridged days, it can be said that Canada is undoubtedly the land of days off when it comes to holidays. Well guys, I hope I have helped you with this information.
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates about life in Quebec.
See you in the next post! ;)
Marco Vasconcelos
Brazilian, webmaster, and e-commerce specialist living in Montreal since 2018. Founder of Você no Quebec, sharing practical guides, housing tips, and real-life experiences in the province to help Brazilian and international newcomers transition smoothly.
Read more about Marco →
