The Lost Code

Site map

Historian's text

Back

The Seasons of the Habitant: Winter

French Canadian habitants playing at cards

McCord Museum, print, M976.71.1

Tin Casting Ladle, Spoon Mold, Spoon

19th century
Wood, bronze, iron, tin
L. 48 cm (casting ladle)
L. 22 cm (spoon mold)
L.18 cm (tin spoon)
Since tin is not the hardest of metals, people salvaged it by melting down worn or broken tin spoons in a crucible. The liquid tin was then poured into a mold where it hardened in a few seconds. Once removed from the mold, the spoons were filed and polished to a shiny finish. Traveling spoon melters disappeared with the arrival of steel utensils, which replaced tin ones over a century ago.
Parks Canada collection, Québec
Manoir Mauvide-Genest collection (tin spoon reproduction)

The Storyteller

Musée de la civilisation, Séminaire de Québec collection, L'Opinion publique, 1871, 1993.25327.1

Skein Winder

19th century
Painted wood
H. 54 cm
W. 59 cm
Skein winders were used to wind threaded linen or wool into skeins.
Manoir Mauvide-Genest collection

Winter was the season of rest. However, as with the rest of the year, the cows still had to be milked every day and night. The rest of the day, men repaired their farming tools or built new ones, and made furniture and other practical objects. Women made clothes, sewed, knitted, and patched holes. Since people had less to do in the cold months, winter was the time for fun with family and friends. It was also the season for holidays, most importantly Christmas and New Year's.