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Centre de la Mi-careme

11 Reviews

#1 of 1 things to do in Grand Etang

Speciality Museums, Museums

51 Harbour Road (Old Cabot Trail Road), Grand Etang, Nova Scotia B0E 1L0, Canada

+1 902-224-1016

Website

Review Highlights

“Who are you ?”

Lent is the solemn time with lots of dietary restrictions. So, the people of France decided to make... read more

Reviewed 5 October 2017

Robby G C

Toronto, Canada

“Exquisite masques”

This was an absolutely delightful museum, both inside and out. The masques are a beautiful and... read more

Reviewed 27 November 2016

Fern W

Bakersfield, California

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Overview

Le Centre de la Mi-Carême is devoted to the old French tradition of the Mi-Carême or the Mid-Lent Break. In the midst of the 40 days of Lent, a group of people decided they deserved a break... and so the tradition was born. Dressing up, going house to house having others guess who is under the mask followed by kitchen parties, food & drink galore. The Mid-Lent break started as a day, and now lasts a whole week, ending in our very Centre with a Gala on the Saturday evening! As well as learning about our long living tradition, the gallery presents an array of beautiful handcrafted masks & papier maché masterpieces. Come on in and explore our crazy tradition to gain a taste of our culture. For those who want to dive right in, we offer workshops on the making and the painting of masks!

4.5

11 reviews

Excellent55%
Very good18%
Average27%
Poor0%
Terrible0%

Travellers talk about

“gift shop” (2 reviews)

“cape breton” (2 reviews)

“mask” (2 reviews)

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Hours

Hours Today: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Suggested Duration: < 1 hour

LOCATION

51 Harbour Road (Old Cabot Trail Road), Grand Etang, Nova Scotia B0E 1L0, Canada

CONTACT

Website

+1 902-224-1016

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1 - 10 of 10 reviews

Robby G C

Toronto, Canada

2108843

Reviewed 5 October 2017

Who are you ?

Lent is the solemn time with lots of dietary restrictions. So, the people of France decided to make a day of celebration, right in the middle of the lent. The priests were not happy. The people had to disguise themselves, so that no one would...More

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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

Fern W

Bakersfield, California

6515

Reviewed 27 November 2016

Exquisite masques

This was an absolutely delightful museum, both inside and out. The masques are a beautiful and interesting part of the local culture--we had no idea! The location of this museum is picturesque and a definite photo op.

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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

julia m

long island, new york

139106

Reviewed 8 October 2016 via mobile

Small but interesting

An interpretive center devoted entirely to a local holiday tradition. Not many interactive components here, but worth the effort to learn about local customs and history. Shed your preconceptions about expensive American-style costuming, such as at Halloween, because Mi-carême is not about being impressive but...More

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teeka33 .

2810

Reviewed 17 August 2016

Like Nothing You Will Ever See Anywhere Else

A great little stop for my 9 and 10 year old. Growing up in an Acadian town, we were always visited my Mi-Caremes but we really didn't know much about the history, other then it happens in the middle of lent and kids got treats....More

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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

Fred M

Summerville, South Carolina

41986

Reviewed 27 August 2015

What an Enjoyable Visit

The essence of the carnival-like Mi-Careme is a spirit of joy, laughter and mockery that contrasts with the Lenten period of austerity, severity and penance leading up to Easter. Lent begins the day after Ash Wednesday and ends the day before Easter. Mi-Careme literally means...More

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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

giftedelaine

Bridgewater NJ USA

780281

Reviewed 1 July 2015

What a neat little museum with interesting history! Rich Acadian History

We went here as part of a guided Caravan tour and would never have even found this on our own. The Mi-careme is the precursor of the Mardi Gras as we know it today. It is part of tradition which led to a mid-Lent celebration...More

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EllaH1

Cincinnati

160206

Reviewed 30 June 2015

Colorful unique museum

Really got a kick out of this colorful, unique and off-the-wall museum!! Definitely recommend a stop!! We did not know that the Acadian people had a tradition of a Lent festival involving handmade elaborate face masks and costumes. The masks and costumes are worn to...More

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yaflincoln

Rhode Island

536279

Reviewed 19 August 2014

Worth a brief Visit

An old Acadian tradition worth investigating if you are in the area. The history and tradition of mask creation was interesting and the residents and staff take great pride in sharing the story with their visitors. The masks are intriguing and the staff go out...More

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VOYJEAN

Scarborough, Maine

1281761

Reviewed 29 June 2014

Fascinating cultural history and stunning masks

This was one of our favorite stops during our trip to Cape Breton. It was really interesting to learn about this old Acadian masquerade tradition/celebration, and the mask collection was fascinating. We also found the docents to be exceptionally friendly and enthusiastic. Please do yourself...More

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geri w

sunnyvale, ca

5125

Reviewed 29 September 2012

Gorgeous masks and tastes of Acadian culture!

I really enjoyed this attraction, which presents a slice-of-life of this tucked-away community, as well as keeping a tradition enduring. The museum-keepers are welcoming - they showed us mask-making and rug-hooking in progress, and fed us homemade fudge. The masks are beautiful, and the multimedia...More