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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula December 26, 2005   Updated Jan. 6, 2006 Text © 2005 Michele Anderson. Photos © 2005 Michele Anderson, Dave Bezotte and Jim Kurtti, as indicated.

Lake Linden celebrates French Canadian Christmas with song and dance

By Michele Anderson

LAKE LINDEN -- Local musicians, singers and about 100 visitors enjoyed an afternoon of traditional French-Canadian music and dance on Dec. 3, 2005, at the Historic Congregational Church in Lake Linden. Organized by Dave Bezotte of Houghton, Nancy Fisher of Lake Linden and several musical friends, this "first" community musical event celebrating Keweenaw French-Canadian cultural traditions was a part of the annual Lake Linden French-Canadian Christmas celebration, which has been held for the past five years.

Musician Dave Bezotte, whose family is originally from Québec, accompanies singing of French Christmas carols during the French- Canadian Christmas musical celebration Dec. 3, 2005, in Lake Linden's Historic Congregational Church. Bezotte helped organize the event. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson)

Both Fisher and Bezotte said the celebration was a great success, and they hope the event will attract even more community participation next year.

"It was wonderful. It was really well received," Fisher said. "It was so great to hear singing coming out of the church and in French--what a joy to one's ears!"

Bezotte said he was very pleased with the program and with the enthusiastic response of the people who attended.

"We hope to do a similar program this summer at the Chassell Heritage Center, and plan on being a part of the French Canadian Christmas celebration in Lake Linden again next December," he noted. "Thanks to the singers, dancers, musicians and MC for contributing their time and talents to make the event a success!" 

Fiddlers Libby Meyer and Kelly Suvanto -- joined by band members Oren Tikkanen, Deb McDowell, Floyd Henderson and Evan Dixon -- played several favorite French-Canadian tunes, including "Boule de Neige," "Reel du Lapin," "Gigue des Sucres," "Eddie's Reel" and "Two-step d'Armand." 

Band members, from left, Oren Tikkanen, Kelly Suvanto, Libby Meyer, Deb McDowell and Floyd Henderson played several French Canadian instrumental tunes and accompanied singers and dancers during the Lake Linden French Canadian Christmas musical event Dec. 3, 2005. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson)

Band members also accompanied dances taught by McDowell, including "La Bastringue," a favorite "mixer" of local folkdancers, and some popular French Canadian reels.

Visitors join in the dancing fun at the Dec. 3 Lake Linden French-Canadian Christmas musical celebration. (Photo © 2005 Jim Kurtti)

Organizer Dave Bezotte led singers in "Prendre un P'tit Coup" and "Chantez, Dansez, Sautez" and gave a brief lesson in French Canadian Foot-Tapping, a kind of step dance which is often done by musicians while they are seated playing musical instruments.

Dave Bezotte explains and demonstrates the art of French-Canadian Foot-Tapping during the Lake Linden Christmas musical celebration Dec. 3, 2005, in the Historic Congregational Church.  (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson)

A group of singers performed favorite French-Canadian carols, and some of them performed solo renditions of French songs in French, including Lake Linden High School music teacher Jenny Veenstra, who gave a beautiful solo performance of the French carol, "Cantique de Noël" ("Oh Holy Night").

Jenny Veenstra, music teacher at Lake Linden High School, sings, in French, the beautiful "Cantique de Noël" ("Oh Holy Night") during the Dec. 3 Lake Linden French-Canadian Christmas music event. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson)

In addition to playing spoons with the band, Evan Dixon sang "Sur La Route de Berthier." 

Playing his spoons, Evan Dixon joins in with the band as his sons Anwar, left, and Jacob participate in the fun at the Lake Linden Christmas musical celebration (Photo © 2005 Dave Bezotte)

Visitors of all ages joined in the singing, dancing and making music, including Anabelle Fleur Mack, 3 1/2, daughter of Jason and Claire Lavandier Mack of Hancock. Anabelle, who speaks French, tried out the spoons. 

Anabelle Fleur Mack, age 3 1/2,  tries playing the spoons during the Dec. 3 French-Canadian Christmas musical event in Lake Linden. Anabelle's mother, Claire Lavandier Mack, was born and raised in Reims, France. (Photo © 2005 Dave Bezotte. Reprinted with permission of Anabelle's father, Jason Mack.)

Nancy Fisher, owner of the Yarns and Threads shop in Lake Linden, who has organized the French Canadian Christmas celebration for the past five years, calls it a "neighborhood-friendly" event. Traditional activities include Santa's arrival by train at the Houghton County Historical Society's log cabin; horse-and-wagon rides through the town (riders can be dropped off at various events); arts and crafts activities sponsored by Keweenaw Krayons, BHK and the Lake Linden Parent Teacher Organization at the Lake Linden High School; a pork pie sale at St. Joseph's Church; and an art show at Fisher's shop.

Local artists who exhibited their work at Yarns and Threads this year included Eunice Carlson, porcupine quills and birch bark decorations; Mary Lawver, hand-painted and hand-dyed fabrics; Robin Rastello, hand-made, whimsical dolls; Luke Beckley, glass, jewelry and glass knitting needles; and John Williams, wood turning items made from his own trees.

Admission to these events is free, thanks to the Lake Linden Downtown Development Association.

"We've already got interesting things scheduled for next year," Fisher said.

See more photos of the Lake Linden French-Canadian Christmas musical event on page 2.

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