La Fte Nationale: 4 things you didn't know

St-Jean-Baptiste Day, officially known in Quebec as theFte nationale, has a long and storied history that goes far beyond the modern-dayparades, parties and concerts.

Here are four things you may not know about the annual June 24 holiday.

• Celebrate Quebec's Fte Nationale with free events
• St-Jean-Baptiste Day: What's open and what's closed

1. Those pagan days

The roots of the holiday can be traced back to thepagan custom of celebrating the summer solsticeby lighting bonfires on the longest day of the year. Experts say the pagan customwas co-opted by Catholics in the 4th century.

In France, many still light a bonfire to celebrate the day.

2. It was inspired by St. Patrick's Day

In 1834, aninfluential journalist visited the St. Patrick's Day celebration in Montreal and thought French Canadians should have their own patriotic event similar to it.He decided to organize St-Jean celebrationsfor FrenchCanadians.

3. 'O Canada,' OhQuebec

In Quebec, the first St-Jean-BaptisteDay was celebrated in1834 at a banquet where attendeessang their interpretations of patriotic songs.These new songsincludingGeorge-tienneCartierwho sang' Canada! mon pays! mes amours!"

4. A non-political holiday, until the1960s

St-Jean-BaptisteDaybecame a provincial holiday in Quebec in 1925but it was barely celebrated. In the 1960s, itstarted being viewed more politically.

Under then-premierRenLvesque, thePartiQubcoisdeclared it the "FtenationaleduQubec"in 1977.