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Welcome to the Encyclopedia of French Cultural Heritage in North America! As you browse the site, you will learn about the heritage of French-speaking North America, as well as about its history and diversity. Get to know the people who preserve and cherish it, discover the places where it finds expression and become familiar with the trends that have shaped and influenced its evolution throughout history.
Article Summary
By Couvrette, Sébastien
The Criée des Âmes in L’Islet-sur-Mer
A custom dating back to the French Regime, the Criée des Âmes, or “All Souls Auction,” is a practice rooted in both religious and folk traditions. Originally, proceeds from these auctions were used to pay for masses to free souls from purgatory. Nowadays, the event is an original fundraising activity that helps Quebec parishes pay for church maintenance. A Criée des Âmes has been held every year since 1980 in L’Islet-sur-Mer, a town in Quebec’s Chaudière-Appalaches region. The ceremony also provides a special opportunity to revive time-honoured local cultural traditions, like berlot ...
The English version of the Encyclopedia of French Cultural Heritage in North America is online since December 15th, 2009. It features an ever growing number of articles, documents and resources on the heritage of French-speaking North America.
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