This year, for National Day, there won’t be any parties, big barbecues, or shows in Quebec’s parks. This year, our celebration of Quebec will be a quiet one. Normally, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day is an event that brings people together. Quebec’s National Day is an event that has Quebecers dancing and singing throughout the province.
For as long as I can remember, June 23 and 24 were days spent in a park with family or friends, taking part in a multitude of activities and games. The festivities included a parade, a hot dog lunch, inflatable rides, games of skill, performances, fireworks, and a bonfire to wrap up the celebrations. You’d also see children running around with face paint and glow sticks, which, along with the Quebec flags, helped create the festive atmosphere.
In 2020, due to COVID-19, National Day will be a far cry from the usual festivities that have made this event so special for several decades. This year, the parks will be empty, and the traditional show on the Plains of Abraham will be a televised event titled *Tout le Québec à l’unisson*. We’ll therefore gather in front of our screens or in small groups in our backyards. I believe many people will feel a sense of emptiness as we face this summer, which will be different, and that this feeling will be heightened by the absence of the major summer gatherings, including our National Holiday.
Even though we’re likely to remember this National Day for a long time—given the current circumstances and the fact that, once again, Quebecers are showing great solidarity to help us get through these difficult times together—I hope that the next National Day will be even more spectacular and that it will take place in our province’s parks to demonstrate, once again, that we are united. To all Quebecers, I wish you a wonderful National Day from afar, and I hope you’ll find a way to celebrate our Quebec in a different way with your family and friends.