R-240 Page 1 of 1
2024
No. R-240. House concurrent resolution recognizing June 24, 2024 as Saint-Jean-
Baptiste Day in Vermont.
(H.C.R.181)
Offered by: Representatives Bartley of Fairfax, Burrows of West Windsor, Anthony of
Barre City, Austin of Colchester, Black of Essex, Chase of Chester, Christie of Hartford,
Dodge of Essex, Dolan of Waitsfield, Donahue of Northfield, Galfetti of Barre Town,
Gregoire of Fairfield, Hango of Berkshire, Howard of Rutland City, LaBounty of Lyndon,
McCann of Montpelier, McGill of Bridport, Ode of Burlington, Oliver of Sheldon, Roberts of Halifax, Shaw of Pittsford, Small of Winooski, Walker of Swanton, and White of Bethel Offered by: Senator Gulick Whereas, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, a legal holiday in the Province of Québec,
commemorates the traditional feast of St. John the Baptist, and Franco-American communities, especially in New England, conduct unofficial celebrations, and Whereas, in 1834, French-Canadian businessman Ludger Duvernay attended St.
Patrick’s Day festivities in Montreal, and he was inspired to establish a comparable holiday to celebrate French-Canadian pride, and, on June 24, 1834, the first Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day was observed, and Whereas, late-19th-century Franco-American communities, especially in New England,
held Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day celebrations that could be elaborate, and Whereas, since 1977, Saint-Jean-Baptiste commemorations in Quebec have also been known as La Fête nationale du Quebec, in order to emphasize both Quebecois culture and the Province of Quebec’s political autonomy, and Whereas, observances in the contemporary United States are festive, if not as
extravagant as those held in the late 19th century, and are known as Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, Franco-American Day, or Franco-American Heritage Day, and they promote both Franco-American culture and the community’s strong ties to the United States, and Whereas, nearly a quarter of Vermonters are of French-Canadian heritage, and an
official recognition of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day would honor their many outstanding societal contributions to our State, now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly recognizes June 24, 2024 as Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day in
Vermont, and be it further Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
the Canadian Club in Barre and to the Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society in
Essex Junction.
VT LEG #376029 v.1