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Thanksgiving Merriment in Lowell
Thanksgiving Merriment in Lowell – (PIP #48)
By Louise Peloquin
After turkey and fixings, Lowell’s French-Canadians pursued Thanksgiving festivities by singing and dancing in their social clubs. Among the traditional dances was a series of complex, rapid and rhythmical steps come from Ireland. “La gigue” became emblematic of Québec traditional dance. (1) As for the “modern” moves, the Charleston and Foxtrot certainly brought life to Little Canada dance floors.
L’Etoile, November 28, 1924
Thanksgiving at the Club des Citoyens Américains (2)
Last night in the Club des Citoyens Américains hall, a joyous celebration of the feast of Thanksgiving took place under the auspices of the entertainment committee.
During the evening, there was a concert as well as traditional and modern dances. Everyone present could not have had more fun.
The organizing committee was composed of Mr. Fernando Lagassé, president; Mr. Léon Charbonneau, Mr. Armand Jacob, Mr. Conrad Charbonneau, Mr. Harvey Gaudette, Mr, Joseph Dubuque and Mr. James Lavallée.
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Although the term “Black Friday” only became current in the 1950’s, the lure of grabbing the best shopping deals impacted Lowellians. (3) In 1924, the city offered superb shopping opportunities as the advertisements below demonstrate.
In today’s nano-second society, a lengthy paragraph exposing the nature of merchandise on sale and possible pricing idiosyncrasies would be unheard of. Are the following ads verbose and unbusinesslike or do they simply show respect for the potential customer?
L’Etoile, Friday November 28, 1924
The Bon Marché
Dry Goods Co.
After-Thanksgiving Sales
Beginning this morning. We continually renew our stock of merchandise.
We have so many unique, one-of-a-kind clothes that it is not unusual for some of the prices to fall lower than others; and it is for that reason that we want to get rid of our stock and reduce the number of all of our hard-to-sell models. You will find below the names of the different items we have put on sale today. It may be that certain inaccuracies may have slipped into the list but there are no price quotes due to bad faith. The only possibility of error is found in the potential sale of some of these items before the official opening.
DRESSES – $24.75 COATS DRESSES – $29.75
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L’Etoile, Friday November 28, 1924
A.G. Pollard Co.
The thrifty people’s store
An
After-Thanksgiving Sale of
Coats and Dresses
In Full Swing
These collections we are selling at new prices were chosen from our regular stock. At this time we have an accumulation of models which can be reduced, either because the assortment of sizes or colors is incomplete and cannot be completed or because it is perhaps a mismatched coat or dress of excellent quality and of very high price. We must reduce our price to put this merchandise on sale and to make room for the new models we are expecting by the first day of December. (4)
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- Information on “la gigue”: https://www.patrimoine-culturel.gouv.qc.ca/rpcq/detail.do?methode=consulter&id=82&type=imma
2) Club of American Citizens.
3). For a history of the term “Black Friday,” see:
4) Translations by Louise Peloquin.