Most of Acadia's population [note 1] is Catholic. [1] The history of religion in Acadia is marked by the weak presence of the clergy at its origins, and it is primarily a family practice. Towards the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, the Acadian population militated for better representation in the clergy, which was then controlled by English speakers. Religious communities played an important role in education and health care until the 1970s. The religious practice then declined. Catholicism in Acadia accords an important place to women, notably in the cult of Sainte Anne. Many traditions linked to the sea and Sainte Anne are still popular. In southeastern New Brunswick, some Acadians or Chiacs practiced a religious blend of native spirituality and Catholicism. Protestant communities are present in Acadia, as is a small Jewish community in Moncton.
The Acadians were originally tolerant of other religions and denominations, as some of their founders were Protestants. [2] The clergy was not very present, and was mainly interested in evangelizing the Micmacs; in fact, the practice of religion was mainly a family affair, due to the shortage of priests. [2] Acadians retained freedom of religion following the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. [2] Following the deportation of the Acadians, relations became strained between the population and the priests and bishops, who were now mostly Scottish or Irish, and English-speaking. [2] Acadian priests were trained following the opening of Collège Saint-Joseph in 1865, but these were sent mainly to English-speaking regions. [2] A debate over the "Acadianization" of the clergy began in the 1880s, and the first bishop, Édouard Alfred Leblanc, was appointed in 1913. [2] A movement was then organized to petition the Pope for better representation in the clergy, despite Anglophone opposition, with success. [2] The request to create an archdiocese in Moncton caused even more opposition but was also accepted in 1936. [3] The Diocese of Edmundston was detached in 1944, while the Diocese of Yarmouth was separated from Halifax in 1953. [3] The Catholic faith remained linked to Acadianity until the 1940s when a majority of the elite were either religious or had been educated in Catholic colleges. [3] Religious communities played a fundamental role in education and health care until the 1970s. [3] As in many parts of the world, religious practice then declined, as the number of priests fell and some parishes were no longer served. [3] The Catholic faith remains important for a large part of the population, but its link with Acadianity is likely to be different in the future, according to historian Naomi Griffiths. [3]
Acadians are predominantly Catholic. The Archdiocese of Saint John covers Newfoundland and Labrador, the Archdiocese of Moncton includes all of New Brunswick, while the Archdiocese of Halifax covers both Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. [3]
The interpretation of Catholicism in Acadia gives an important place to women, a situation demonstrated by the large number of churches dedicated to a saint, cathedrals dedicated to Marie or Saint Anne, and the fact that two female religious communities, the Congrégation des Filles de Marie de l'Assomption and the Congrégation des Religieuses de Notre-Dame du Sacré-Cœur, were founded, unlike the male communities, which all originate from Quebec or France. [3] The cult of Saint Anne is very important, and the imposition of Marie de l'Assomption as patron saint has not changed this. The sea also occupies an important place in religion, notably through the ever-popular celebration of Fisherman's Sunday and the blessing of boats. [4]
The Acadians are an ethnic group descended from the French who settled in the New France colony of Acadia during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Acadia was a colony of New France in northeastern North America which included parts of what are now the Maritime provinces, the Gaspé Peninsula and Maine to the Kennebec River.
Memramcook, sometimes also spelled Memramcouke or Memramkouke, is a village in Westmorland County, New Brunswick, Canada. Located in south-eastern New Brunswick, the community is predominantly people of Acadian descent who speak the Chiac derivative of the French language. An agricultural village, it has a strong local patrimony, key to the history of the region. It was home to Mi'kmaqs for many years and was the arrival site of Acadians in 1700. A large part of these Acadians were deported in 1755, but the village itself survived.
The Acadian World Congress, or Le Congrès Mondial Acadien, is a festival of Acadian and Cajun culture and history, held every five years. It is also informally known as the Acadian Reunion. Its creator was André Boudreau (1945-2005).
Caisse populaire acadienne ltée, operating as UNI Financial Cooperation, is a Francophone credit union based in New Brunswick, Canada whose members are primarily Acadians. UNI's administrative headquarters are in Caraquet on the Acadian Peninsula.
The flag of Acadia is a symbolic flag representing the Acadian community of Canada. It was adopted on 15 August 1884, at the Second Acadian National Convention held in Miscouche, Prince Edward Island, by nearly 5,000 Acadian delegates from across the Maritimes.
The Acadians are the descendants of 17th and 18th century French settlers in parts of Acadia in the northeastern region of North America comprising what is now the Canadian Maritime Provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, the Gaspé peninsula in eastern Québec, and the Kennebec River in southern Maine.
Tintamarre is an Acadian tradition of marching through one's community making noise with improvised instruments and other noisemakers, usually in celebration of National Acadian Day. The term originates from the Acadian French word meaning "clangour" or "din". The practice is intended to demonstrate the vitality and solidarity of Acadian society, and to remind others of the presence of Acadians. It originated in the mid-twentieth century, likely inspired by an ancient French folk custom.
Pisiguit is the pre-expulsion-period Acadian region located along the banks of the Avon River from its confluence with the Minas Basin of Acadia, which is now Nova Scotia, including the St. Croix River drainage area. Settlement in the region commenced simultaneous to the establishment of Grand-Pré. Many villages spread rapidly eastward along the river banks. These settlements became known as Pisiguit or. The name is from the Mi'kmaq Pesaquid, meaning "Junction of Waters". In 1714, there were 351 people there.
Françoise Enguehard is a French-speaking author from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon who now resides in Canada. She served as president of the National Society of Acadia from 2006 to 2012 and is the current president of the National Acadian Foundation. She and her husband have been involved in promoting the history and education about Acadian people, through the development of schools. She speaks throughout the French-speaking countries to promote French culture. She received the rank of Knight in the Order of La Pléiade in 2011 and was honored as a knight in the Legion of Honour, France's highest award, in 2015 for her commitment to preserving the heritage of Acadians and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.
Acadia is a North American cultural region in the Maritime provinces of Canada where approximately 300,000 French-speaking Acadians live. The region lacks clear or formal borders; it is usually considered to be the north and east of New Brunswick as well as a few isolated localities in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. Some also include a few localities in Quebec and/or Maine.
Sainte-Anne-du-Bocage, or simply Le Bocage, is a Catholic sanctuary in Caraquet, New Brunswick (Canada).
The Acadian Men of Letters are a group of five Acadian literary figures who are noted for their work in Acadian history, literature, language, and culture. They were active from the 1880s to the 1930s and made up of Pascal Poirier, Placide Gaudet, John Clarence Webster, Israël Landry, and Ferdinand Robidoux. They were declared Persons of National Historic Significance in Canada in 1955 and have a plaque dedicated to them in Shediac, New Brunswick.
Acadian architecture, also known as Cadien architecture, is a traditional style of architecture used by Acadians and Cajuns. It is prevalent in Acadia and, by extension, is employed for architectural purposes in the place.
Acadian theatre refers to theatrical productions that originate from or are perceived as originating from Acadia. The most prominent playwright is Antonine Maillet, whose play La Sagouine has been staged over two thousand times, with Viola Léger as the sole Actor.
The Acadian culture has several characteristics that distinguish it from other regions of Canada.
Acadian literature is literature produced in Acadia, or considered as such.
The Acadian Renaissance is a period in the history of Acadia spanning, according to sources, from 1850 to 1881.
The Acadian community in Quebec is distributed across several regions and comprises individuals with diverse origins. A survey conducted by Léger revealed that over one million Quebecers have an Acadian surname. A study by the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM) indicates that approximately 4.8 million Quebec residents have one or more Acadian ancestors in their family tree. Montreal alone is home to approximately 200,000 individuals with Acadian heritage. The regions where Acadians reside are referred to as "Cadies", and numerous towns and villages use "Cadiens" as their demonym.
The Acadian diaspora is a term used to designate the various Acadian communities residing outside Canada's Maritime Provinces.