L'Acadie en Fete/Acadia celebrates

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   Just back from the "Tintamarre" in Dieppe NB Canada. Today, August 15, is our national day - "la fete des Acadiens". The "Tintamarre" is a festive noisemaking held in most Acadian villages, towns and communities.
It serves as our way of saying we're still here, and we're here to stay. For those who are not familiar with our history, here is an excerpt from Wikipedia :
"In the summer of 1755, the British attacked Fort Beauséjour and burned Acadian homes at the outbreak of the French and Indian War between Britain and France (the North American theatre of the Seven Years' War), accusing Acadians of disloyalty (for not having taken the oath) and guerrilla action. Those who still refused to swear loyalty to the British crown then suffered what is referred to as the Great Upheaval (La Deportation in french) when, over the next three years, some 6,000–7,000 Acadians were expelled from Nova Scotia to France or the lower British American colonies. Others fled deeper into Nova Scotia or into French-controlled Canada. "
For many expulsion was just the start of the journey back to Acadie. Many just fled to other nearby territory like New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island where they were able to establish small settlements out of reach of the English. My own ancestor on my mother's side set foot in what is now Bouctouche (birth place of K C Irving) in 1755. 
Despite all the hardships, the challenges the fights to assimilate us, we have survived and kept our language and culture alive. As opposed to our Quebec cousins, we are proud Canadians. In a way, after the Aboriginals, we were the first Canadians. We have laws giving us equal status in our province, and now rely on the pride we feel to keep our identity.
As a matter of personal pride, the man called the Father of Modern Acadia, Monseigneur Marcel-Francois Richard , buried in my home town of Rogersville. In the years after his death, local parishioners built a monument as a shrine for his tomb. It burnt in 1969, and was rebuilt, this time by professionals.
Each year a novena is held in honour of our patron saint Our Lady of the Assumption. And while the religious aspect of our culture has dimished, much like a lot of the world, there is still a pride in what early church leaders accomplished in reviving and invigorating our culture. 

So to end, I say Vive L'Acadie. Come see us sometime. The best lobster, the best beer, the nicest people, and frankly, the best parties. 

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debrewguy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: April 30 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 3596	Topic: L'Acadie en Fete/Acadia celebrates Posted: August 15 2008 at 19:45
	Just back from the "Tintamarre" in Dieppe NB Canada. Today, August 15, is our national day - "la fete des Acadiens". The "Tintamarre" is a festive noisemaking held in most Acadian villages, towns and communities. It serves as our way of saying we're still here, and we're here to stay. For those who are not familiar with our history, here is an excerpt from Wikipedia : "In the summer of 1755, the British attacked Fort Beauséjour and burned Acadian homes at the outbreak of the French and Indian War between Britain and France (the North American theatre of the Seven Years' War), accusing Acadians of disloyalty (for not having taken the oath) and guerrilla action. Those who still refused to swear loyalty to the British crown then suffered what is referred to as the Great Upheaval (La Deportation in french) when, over the next three years, some 6,000–7,000 Acadians were expelled from Nova Scotia to France or the lower British American colonies. Others fled deeper into Nova Scotia or into French-controlled Canada. " For many expulsion was just the start of the journey back to Acadie. Many just fled to other nearby territory like New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island where they were able to establish small settlements out of reach of the English. My own ancestor on my mother's side set foot in what is now Bouctouche (birth place of K C Irving) in 1755. Despite all the hardships, the challenges the fights to assimilate us, we have survived and kept our language and culture alive. As opposed to our Quebec cousins, we are proud Canadians. In a way, after the Aboriginals, we were the first Canadians. We have laws giving us equal status in our province, and now rely on the pride we feel to keep our identity. As a matter of personal pride, the man called the Father of Modern Acadia, Monseigneur Marcel-Francois Richard , buried in my home town of Rogersville. In the years after his death, local parishioners built a monument as a shrine for his tomb. It burnt in 1969, and was rebuilt, this time by professionals. Each year a novena is held in honour of our patron saint Our Lady of the Assumption. And while the religious aspect of our culture has dimished, much like a lot of the world, there is still a pride in what early church leaders accomplished in reviving and invigorating our culture. So to end, I say Vive L'Acadie. Come see us sometime. The best lobster, the best beer, the nicest people, and frankly, the best parties.
	"Here I am talking to some of the smartest people in the world and I didn't even notice,” Lieutenant Columbo, episode The Bye-Bye Sky-High I.Q. Murder Case.