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Press Herald News Archive
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Article 1 of 51

Recent events point to resurgence of Franco culture

Published on December 27, 2001    Page: 1E

© 2001- Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc.

Maine's Franco-Americans are often called the state's invisible minority ethnic group. Nevertheless, three cultural events attracted impressive audiences of enthusiastic second and third generation Francos who were reconnecting with their French heritage. During the past 12 months I attended two openly Franco-American cultural events and one distinctly Acadian concert in Maine. Most recent was the beautiful Dec. 15 choral music performed by Quebec's professional Choeur du

Complete Article, 744 words


Article 2 of 51

Wishing for cards, gifts reflecting French culture

Published on December 20, 2001    Page: 1E

© 2001- Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc.

It's the time of year to suggest Christmas gifts to please Franco-Americans. This year, however, I'm making wishful recommendations about items I simply cannot find.

Recognizing that 30-plus percent of Maine citizens have Franco-American ancestors and about 18 percent claim the ethnicity, it seems that more retail evidence of the French culture should be visible during les fetes - the holidays.

For example, it's a shame there aren't more French-language Christmas cards

Complete Article, 668 words


Article 3 of 51

French choir to perform Concert de Noel

Published on December 13, 2001    Page: 1E

© 2001- Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc.

Les Fetes (the Christmas holidays) is the best time of year for Franco-American traditions. Although some social scientists claim Franco-American culture is driven by nostalgia, most people I know are guilty as charged when it comes to singing French Christmas carols during Les Fetes.

Indeed, nostalgia rules supreme when Franco-Americans recall the spiritual beauty of French Christmas carols sung prior to celebrating midnight Mass. Singing "Minuit Chretiens," French for "Oh

Complete Article, 751 words


Article 4 of 51

Is Maine experiencing a new wave of French Canadians?

Published on December 6, 2001    Page: 3E

© 2001- Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc.

French Canadians are the oldest immigrant group in the United States. Since the beginning of American history in the 18th century, people have freely traveled across what some call "The Friendly Border," between the United States and Canada, continuing today.

Lucie Thibodeau of Saint-Georges de Beauce in Quebec Province asks if anyone is studying the new wave of French Canadians immigrating into New England and other parts of the country? "I am a French Canadian thinking about

Complete Article, 699 words


Article 5 of 51

French Newfoundlanders observing resurgence of storytelling traditions

Published on November 29, 2001    Page: 5E

© 2001- Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc.

Newfoundland is a beautiful northern land known for a subarctic climate, but not typically as a place where French culture is evident. As the last territory to join Canada in1949, Newfoundland's history appears more Irish and English than French.

Newfoundlanders, however, know about their unique French history and now some interesting research documents the traditions of an old and small French culture in the province, particularly in the area around Placentia Bay.

Newfoundland

Complete Article, 746 words


Article 6 of 51

A FOOD FANTASY, FRANCO-AMERICAN STYLE

Published on November 22, 2001    Page: 2E

© 2001- Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc.

On the occasion of writing the twelfth Les Franco-Americains Thanksgiving column, I enjoyed a recent lunch conversation with Doris Faucher of Biddeford where we talked about a Franco-American cookbook. Actually, we don't know of any strictly Franco-American cookbook. Although "A Taste of Quebec" by Julian Armstrong is a wonderful Canadian publication, it's not uniquely Franco-American. Church groups publish cookbooks, but, again, the recipes are a hodge-podge of American

Complete Article, 764 words


Article 7 of 51

SUPPORT GROWS FOR '04 CELEBRATION

Published on November 15, 2001    Page: 3E

© 2001- Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc.

Celebrations commemorating 400 years of French history in North America received support last week when a proposal by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, was approved in the U.S. Congress and signed by President George W. Bush.

Collins sponsored two amendments to the Interior Appropriations Bill to fund the U.S. National Park Service's support for projects in Maine's Washington County, the location of St. Croix Island, which is off the coast of Calais, where the first French settlers

Complete Article, 714 words


Article 8 of 51

A YOUNG MOHAWK WOMAN CONNECTS WITH COLONIAL FRENCH

Published on November 8, 2001    Page: 4E

© 2001- Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc.

Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680) is the name of the young Mohawk who is spiritually connected with colonial French history in North America.

She is the first Indian to be beatified by the Roman Catholic Church. As a result of her growing popularity, "Blessed Kateri's" image is becoming familiar to Americans as her cause for sainthood gains international support.

Father John Paret, a Jesuit priest in Auresville, N.Y., is assigned to study the cause of Blessed Kateri. Paret

Complete Article, 673 words


Article 9 of 51

CULTURE'S WRITERS NEED A WIDER AUDIENCE

Published on November 1, 2001    Page: 3E

© 2001- Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc.

Traditional Franco-American writers have a hard time being heard. Some of the best known information written about Franco-Americans is found in English-language texts written by Anglophone writers.

For example, Maine native Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "Evangeline" created the epic myth describing the Acadian expulsion of 1755 by the British. A retired U.S. Navy admiral named Samuel Eliot Morrison wrote the best biography about French explorer and founder of New France,

Complete Article, 724 words


Article 10 of 51

THIS IS THE TIME WHEN THE WEREWOLF'S HOWL SCARES LITTLE CHILDREN

Published on October 25, 2001    Page: 2E

© 2001- Blethen Maine Newspapers, Inc.

Franco-Americans like my husband remember growing up in the 1940-50's in Sanford, when fall's short days meant "epluchette de ble d'inde" (autumn corn roasts) and the religious La Toussaint, or All Saints Day, celebrated annually on Nov. 1.

Young people at the time, however, also recall the legend of du loup-garou (werewolf), a medieval character that seemed to come alive during the days before La Toussaint and on Halloween. In baby jargon, the monster is called

Complete Article, 696 words


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