Four ways to celebrate Montréal’s flag

Think you know Montréal?

Then let’s test your trivia.

Okay, quick: What are the four symbols on the city’s flag?

Tick, tick, tick…

Time’s up. It’s the shamrock, the thistle, the fleur-de-lys and the red rose of Lancaster.

Okay, second chance. This part’s way easier. What are the founding groups that these symbols represent?

Tick, tick, tick…

Yes! The Irish (shamrock), the Scottish (thistle), the French (fleur-de-lys) and the English (red rose of Lancaster).

You are now officially a little more Montréal-savvy.

It takes four founders to raise a flag

First displayed in May 1939, Montréal’s flag was, in fact, based on the city’s coat of arms, itself influenced by the four founding groups of the era: the above-mentioned Irish, Scottish, French and English.

If the flag were to be revamped to reflect 21st century multicultural Montréal, however, it would look a lot more like a patchwork quilt. Today, the city is home to more than 80 cultural communities. Montréal’s amazing food scene alone reflects this: nowadays you just as easily nosh on anything from dim sum to shish taouk to sushi to sfogliatella.

And while the official language of Montréal is French, we can easily switch it up for English or Spanish or Arabic or Italian or Hebrew or Cantonese or… I think you get the picture.

But if you wanted to “do” the Montréal flag in a day, here is what it might look like:

Living it like the Irish

Don some green and watch the exuberant St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which has been going strong since 1824. Follow that by a Guiness at McKibbin’s or Hurley’s or the Irish Embassy Pub, all downtown.

Living it like the Scottish

In homage to the Scots, you can watch highland dancers, the caber toss and other athletics, plus pipes and drummers during summer’s Montréal Highland Games. In winter, throw a rock during a game of old-fashioned outdoor curling at the Stewart Museum. Or check out the McCord Museum for some Scottish history, or Whiskey Wednesdays at the Omni Mont-Royal Hotel for history and libations.

Living it like the French

In celebration of our French roots, sing along to the FrancoFolies, an awesome French song festival at the heart of downtown. Or sing La Marseillaise and play pétanque with our huge French ex-pat community on July 14 (Bastille Day). Otherwise, book a table at a French restaurant: from brasseries to bistros and more, French cuisine here is truly ubiquitous.

Living it like the English

Finally, get your Downtown Abbey vibe going during afternoon tea; that is, find blends served in bone china, with scones, finger sandwiches and pastries at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth or the Ritz-Carlton. Or do it East Enders-style with a pint of Bass at the Burgundy Lion, fish n’ chips at Brit Chips or pig’s trotter at Lawrence Restaurant.

Isn’t our flag pretty? Get your very own at The Flag Shop!