1. Public holidays in Quebec — the complete list
Quebec has its own public holidays in addition to Canadian federal holidays. Quebec's Act respecting labour standards guarantees most workers 13 paid public holidays per year.
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| Jour de l'An (New Year's Day) | January 1 |
| Vendredi saint (Good Friday) | Friday before Easter (variable March/April) |
| Lundi de Pâques (Easter Monday) | Monday after Easter (variable) |
| Journée nationale des Patriotes | Monday before May 25 |
| Fête nationale du Québec (St-Jean-Baptiste) | June 24 — most important Quebec holiday |
| Fête du Canada (Canada Day) | July 1 |
| Fête du Travail (Labour Day) | First Monday of September |
| Action de grâce (Thanksgiving) | Second Monday of October |
| Jour de Noël (Christmas Day) | December 25 |
| Jour de l'An (Boxing Day) | December 26 |
Note: Remembrance Day (November 11) is NOT a public holiday in Quebec, though commemorated in some contexts.
2. La Fête nationale du Québec — June 24th
La Fête nationale du Québec (commonly called Saint-Jean or Saint-Jean-Baptiste) is Quebec's most important identity celebration — the equivalent of Bastille Day in France or Canada Day on July 1st.
On June 24th, the entire province takes the day off. Montréal organizes a parade and free concerts on Mont-Royal and in many neighbourhoods. Québec City hosts a major celebration on the Plains of Abraham with fireworks. In all neighbourhoods, spontaneous neighbourhood parties form — balconies and parks come alive, barbecues are lit, bonfires organized in regional towns.
The traditional symbol of Saint-Jean is the feu de la Saint-Jean (St. John's bonfire) — an ancient Celtic tradition that continues in Quebec villages. The blue and white fleur-de-lys, Quebec's symbol, is everywhere this day.
3. Other important calendar traditions
Beyond statutory holidays, several cultural traditions mark the Quebec calendar year:
- Halloween (October 31): taken very seriously in Quebec — children dress up and go trick-or-treating in residential neighbourhoods. If you live in a house or residential neighbourhood, it's expected that you participate by distributing candy. Having a box of candy for visitors is the norm.
- Christmas: Quebec's réveillon tradition (Christmas Eve dinner, December 24) is very important — with toques, fondue, bûche de Noël, and often midnight mass for religious families.
- Thanksgiving (second Monday of October): major family celebration similar to American Thanksgiving — families gather for a meal with turkey, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie.
- New Year's Eve / Day: fireworks in major cities, large gatherings.
4. See also
These related guides may be useful:
- Cultural festivals in Quebec — for the major summer events.
- Dining out in Quebec — Quebec gastronomic culture.
- Surviving a Quebec winter — making it through the cold season.
5. Official sources
For the official list of public holidays in Quebec under labour standards: normes-travail.gouv.qc.ca. For Canadian federal holidays: canada.ca.
Author's Note: your first Saint-Jean in Quebec will be a powerful moment. It's the one day of the year when Quebec collectively affirms its distinct identity — in the streets, on balconies, on Mont-Royal, in parks. Even if you just arrived, you're welcome at these celebrations. It's a day of collective joy that has no equivalent in many countries.
