Rascal! I like saying this word. It’s one where, with repetition, meaning fades and the sounds emerge, so you hear the language without engagement – like listening to a song or piece of music that isn’t in your mother tongue but you enjoy anyway. You’re engaged, but not concerned with the literal.
We met this rascal last week, along with a few others. Why not be a (good natured) rascal through carnaval? The Carnaval de Québec is a high spirited event that celebrates winter, good times and good people sharing those good times. If the number of pop up bars are anything to go by, plenty of good spirits are downed to keep the cold at bay and cover up that you might not know any of the words to the drinking songs. Are we back to being engaged without worrying about the literal? Just let it wash over you…
We enjoyed the upbeat atmosphere – yup, it is winter, so why not celebrate it?! Even if it was unseasonably mild to the point where the ice sculptures were struggling to maintain shape. Maintaining shape a struggle? I know how that feels after a carnival beer or three. Or I would if I did…
Rascals? Yup! Bonhomme? Yup – everywhere! He’s a good fellow, a busy fellow and popular too. So many people wanted to be seen with him that he had to have a minder or two to see him safe. No, really!
Pis sors! My inner grade 8 could not get enough of seeing the posters around town with pis sors all over them. As it were. I sent an image to my brother to confirm pronunciation (he understands French about as well as I do – so not that well) and he assured me it is p*ss sauce, and, in this particular case, not to let it wash over you. Sound advice! (I think it’s a genetic thing, us both being stuck in grade 8?)
We didn’t stick around for the late night parties, but I do hope those that were there had a good time. I’m fairly sure I’d fail the drink a yard of ale test, and what a waste of beer that would be. Still, there’s always next year and the twelve months to train for it.
Let’s finish with another phrase I like to repeat. Soyez doux – be gentle! I think I read it in relation to the ice sculptures, but maybe it was a nudge as to how to behave in general? Soyez doux, soyez doux, soyez doux – I like the sounds and the meaning. Given the state of the world right now, I’m all for a bit more soyez doux, and a laugh and a drink or two with good natured rascals and bonhommes. Seems quite sensible.
Déguédine pis sors! Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
OldPlaidCamper 
I’m glad you got out for Carnaval de Quebec. I was hopeful to go this year but it didn’t happen. Thanks for the picture of Bonhomme. I would like to greet him in person one day. Rascal is a great!!! word. I was alway fond of the word retaliate. Not that I’m violent, It just real sounds like it’s meaning. Cheers to a happy weekend.
LikeLike
Thanks, Kelly! Retaliate is definitely a great sounding word – and I’m all in favour of a deserved retaliation!
Carnaval was fun, but maybe a touch low key due to the mild weather? Didn’t feel quite like winter – been saying that for months…
I hope your week is going well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am well thank you. Yes winter has been mostly absent here to. NS on the other hand, has gotten a record setting winter of snow. I’ve been doing travel planning for this year. Hoping to retire and do a lot of traveling. Fingers crossed. Stay well cheers
LikeLike
Fingers crossed for your retirement plans, Kelly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes, I agree, ‘rascal” has a somewhat casual mischievous high class ring to it. Carnavale looks and sounds like such a fun event. And you obviously downed a pint or three. Cheers and happy weekend to you Adam. 🙂
LikeLike
Just the one or three…
Casual mischievousness – I’m all for it!
Thanks, Miriam, and I hope you’re having a fine time in Vietnam!
LikeLiked by 1 person
How fun to go to this event, pc, and thanks for taking us with you. I enjoyed seeing all the incredible sculptures and sights of the Carnaval de Québec. Wonderful to see Canada’s snowman with you and on foot. I love that a snowman has feet, finally, at last, they get to walk around. Great to see all the rascals, or wascals, as Elmer Fudd would say. Thanks for a big smile and happy scenes, my friend.
LikeLike
Thanks, Jet! I was worried for him, the temperatures being so mild, but he muddled (puddled?) on through, the rascal!
I hope your week is going well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hang out with the locals and you’ll get it right.Or, you might learn all the variety of pronunciations they have. Whatever, the atmosphere seems festive. I like the interpretation of the polar bear with the ice legs.
LikeLike
Thanks, Jane – my accent certainly needs work! Québécois and my schoolboy French are nothing alike, that’s for sure, but it’s fun having a go…
The polar bear was also a climbing wall. Nope, not for me!
I hope all is well with you!
LikeLike
Although I want to be further along in my recovery, I am not doing badly. It has been 3 weeks since my hip replacement, and I caught pneumonia, which slowed me down. Take big naps and have better range of motion, though my operative leg is weak, so have to keep up the exercises to strengthen muscles and be able to bear weight. Still need a walker to mobilize and would like to be free of that eventually. One day at a time…
LikeLike
Glad you enjoyed the carnival and forgot the troubles of the world.
Soyez doux, ne laissez pas le monde vous rendre dur.
Should I Buy High End Luxury Property? – Cris Santos (photosbycris.com.au)
LikeLike
Thanks, Cris – it’s always pleasant to put aside the cares of the world!
I hope your week is going well!
LikeLike
Looks like Carnival was a lot of fun, with some jovial Rascalians captured by your camera. What a great way to celebrate a season, and I wish you good luck with the forthcoming “yard of ale test”!
LikeLike
Thanks, Walt! It might take a few attempts to figure out this carnaval thing… (and a yard or two of ale would have me past caring or understanding!)
I hope all is well with you!
LikeLike
Wonderful to see and read about all the carnival spirit and that you almost smiled as much as the other rascal (maybe that would have required another pint or two)!! I actually saw this advertised locally when I was looking for winter festivals and wondered if you guys would be attending the great festival. Hope you guys have plenty of festivals to help with the beer training regimen over the next year. Enjoy the week and hopefully an Everton win tomorrow and thank you for the laughs!🙂
LikeLike
Thank you! We’re already looking forward to next year, hopefully a bit more winter like and maybe we’ll crack daytime drinking?! Perhaps not…
Oh, Everton – where is the win?! Terrible performance, so so bad but… Didn’t lose!
I hope your week is going well!
LikeLiked by 1 person