Quebec celebrates Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day as its national holiday on June 24.
Known in French as la fête nationale du Québec, the holiday is associated with French Canadian identity and Quebec culture. Public celebrations can include concerts, parades, fireworks, speeches and displays of the fleurdelisé, Quebec’s flag.
The date is the feast day of Saint John the Baptist, whose name also appears in several midsummer celebrations around the world. In Quebec, the day developed from religious observance into a broader cultural and national celebration, especially during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day is often confused with Canada Day, which is celebrated nationally on July 1. The two holidays have different histories and meanings: June 24 is especially linked with Quebec’s francophone heritage, while July 1 commemorates Canadian Confederation.