Carnaval!

The Terrace Chapter of CPF is sponsoring our Annual Carnaval celebrations at Ecole Kiti K'Shan January 25th - 29th, 2010.

Monday - Kickoff Assembly 9:10am with a special visit from Bonhomme Carnaval
Tuesday - Toque & Sash Day
Wednesday - Snow Golf in the back upper field
Thursday - Fun Activities in the Gym
Friday - Closing assembly 10:ooam
Merci to the Carnaval Coordinator - Mme. Snyder, all the parent volunteers and the staff of Ecole Kiti K'Shan for supporting this annual event!

To learn more about Carnaval please visit www.carnaval.qc.ca/en

CPF Terrace has Authentic Arrowhead Sashes for sale at Ecole Kiti K'Shan. They are $25 each and all proceeds go to supporting French Language & Cultural Activities in Terrace.
Arrowhead sash with an embroidered Bonhomme Carnaval.

About 92 inches long.

Made in Québec

The arrowhead sash, inspired by the Amerindian culture, has remained a symbol in Quebecois society thanks to the Québec Carnival. In the 19th century, this belt was used to tie jackets at the waist to prevent the cold from creeping in. It also supported the kidneys in moments of physical effort. It was both a practical and fashionable accessory, worn by both the bourgeois and the peasants. The belt and the red hat, linked directly to Québec folklore, are today considered the primary elements of Bonhomme's outfit.

The ceinture fléchée, or arrowhead sash, was one of the famous badges of the voyageur. The ceinture fléchée had many uses. It was used for warmth, as a tump line and a support on the portage, as an emergency rope, and as a mark of distinction and origin. When tightly woven and treated with beeswax, it could even be used as a cup.

Originally, ceintures fléchées were woven by hand using a technique called 'finger weaving'. Later, sashes were machine loomed in England for the Canadian mass market.

The term 'fléchée' refers specifically to the original arrowhead design, but there were many other patterns. The chevron, the 'flammes' (flames), the 'éclairs' (lightning bolts), the 'W' ( double chevron), and the 'tête de flèche' (large two-tone arrowhead) were also used. Colors and patterns were distinctive of various regions. Probably the most famous of all sashes were those from the Assomption area of Lower Canada, which had multiple multi-colored lightning-bolts (éclairs) flanking a central red core.