First Night at Ste Marie among the Huron - Magical!

**This is NOT my photo, it just shows how beautiful it is at First Night **


I went to First Night at Ste Marie Among the Huron in Midland (Ontario) last night. It is simply magical!

Ste Marie among the Huron is a re-created French Jesuit mission on the Wye River in Midland. This is where Fr Jean Brebeuf and the Jesuits came to live and work with the native Huron Wendat in the 1600's.



It is lit up by over 2000 candles, lighting the paths and providing inside the cabins, chapels and longhouses. Everything is done by candlelight, or a over woodfire and we did have a small glimmer of a moon. There are crafts for the kids; card making with quills, candle making, lots of baking done as it would have been done in the 17th century - done over an open fire, musket drills, cider, teas, hot chocolate. Mmmmm I had some cedar tea and breads.



There is music the local school choirs, Franco Ontario folks songs, traditional drumming by aboriginal groups; the Christian Island native Drum Group and the Askewsasne singers and drummers in the longhouses.

I could wander around all evening following the candlelit pathst listening to the music, the drumming, smelling the woodsmoke while sipping tea. Michel Payent was singing Winter Night as I sat and listened and later sang the hauntingly beautiful Huron Carol.



Again, these photos are not good as I had my digi camera and it doesn't capture the moment.



Some of the breads and bisuits baked over the fire.




Links
First night at Ste Marie Among the Huron
Legend of The Huron Carol