All across Canada, French Canadians express their cultural pride and rich heritage through colourful parades and lively parties marking Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.

These festivities combine the ancient rites of the summer solstice – a period of light and hope – with the traditional celebration in honor of the Patron Saint of French Canadians, who was officially proclaimed as such by His Holiness Pope Pius X in 1908. Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day became part of the Celebrate Canada celebrations in 1996.