Moving Day: Celebrating a Québécois Tradition
June 24, 2010
It’s a cool fact that July 1st has a long history in the province of Québec as Moving Day. As you will read below, leases in Quebec used to end on April 30th, much to the chagrin of parents of school-aged children. In 1974, a law made all leases signed on April 30th of that year valid until June 30. For many in la belle province Moving Day has been July 1st since that time. CBC cited that Hydro-Québec switched over 120,000 accounts for July 1st, 2004!
(See http://www.cbc.ca/montreal/features/movingday/ ).
A Wikipedia entry explains that Moving Day has its origins in the laws governing the seigneurial system. Seigneurs could not evict tenants before May 1st, around the time the snow melted (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moving_Day_(Quebec)). Sounds kind almost thoughtful, doesn’t it?
Is it because I love Montréal that I am moving for the third summer in a row?
Moving is acknowledged as a major stressor in a human’s life. I’m thinking I could be a case study. If only we were back in the days of travois or ice sledge, I know I would very quickly have my belongings narrowed down to only the most useful and essential items (skins; tools of stone, wood or bone; and cooking utensils). Our household items have been in storage for two years, and guess what I’ve missed the most??? (No, I said guess… answer later). What you would miss, I wonder, if your goods and chattel were separated from you for a long period of time. Let me know!
I will soon be rejoined with my beloved X and I’ve got some cool help lined up, so maybe I’ll just be having a little fun on my Moving Day this July 1st.
I’m signing off for a little while, but Canadians I wish you a Happy Canada Day. And for those of you who, like me, are celebrating the day in a Québécois manner: Bonne chance avec vos déménagements et amusez-vous bien!
lian goodall
Moving Day 1930s, from the McCord Museum collection, Montreal
I could joke about which “beloved ‘x’” you will soon be joined with (with which you will soon be joined) but I won’t. You didn’t tell us!!!
I spent twenty (very happy!)years of my life in Montreal and never realized there was more than one event to celebrate on July 1st. Particularly odd because my parents and I lived in four different houses during that time. Anyway, lian, it is an excellent blog. Congrats on all the interesting projects that are coming your way and all the best with your move July 1.
Cheers,
Marilyn
Might this be the last one for a long time (unless it’s to Yellowknife…sorry Helen)!