Chasse-galerie facts for kids
La Chasse-galerie is a famous French-Canadian story. It's also known as "The Bewitched Canoe" or "The Flying Canoe." The tale is about lumberjacks who work near the Gatineau River. They make a special deal with the devil to fly their canoe. This story is a version of an old European legend called the Wild Hunt. The most well-known version was written by Honoré Beaugrand (1848–1906). It was first published in The Century Magazine in August 1892.
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What is the Origin of the Flying Canoe Story?
The story of the flying canoe comes from an old French legend. This legend was about a rich nobleman named Gallery. He loved to hunt so much that he often missed Sunday mass. As a punishment, he was forced to fly through the night skies forever. He was chased by galloping horses and howling wolves. This part of the story is similar to other "Wild Hunt" tales.
When French settlers came to Canada, they shared stories with the First Nations people. The legend of Gallery then combined with a First Nations story about a flying canoe. Over time, bark canoes became a symbol of French-Canadian culture. Early French-Canadians even arrived in New York City in bark canoes. People there were amazed because they had never seen such boats before.
What are the Different Versions of the Tale?
Many different versions of the Chasse-galerie story exist. Here is a common one:
After a night of celebrating on New Year's Eve, a group of voyageurs (travelers) are at a faraway timber camp. They want to visit their sweethearts, who are about 100 leagues (around 480 kilometres) away. To make such a long trip and be back for work the next morning, they decide to "run the chasse-galerie."
Running the chasse-galerie means making a deal with the devil. In exchange, their canoe can fly through the air very quickly. However, there are strict rules:
- The travelers must not say God's name.
- They must not touch the cross on any church steeple as they fly by.
If they break either of these rules, the devil will take their souls. To be safe, the men promise not to drink any more rum. The crew gets into the canoe, and it lifts off the ground. They start to paddle through the air. Below them, they see the frozen Gatineau River, many villages, and shiny church steeples. Soon, they see the lights of Montreal.
The bewitched canoe eventually lands near a house where New Year's Eve parties are happening. No one seems surprised by the loggers' sudden arrival. They are welcomed warmly and soon join the dancing and celebrating.
As it gets late, the men know they must leave to get back to camp in time. As they fly through the dark night, it becomes clear that their navigator is not thinking clearly. He steers the canoe on a dangerous and shaky path. They almost hit a church steeple while flying over Montreal. Soon after, the canoe gets stuck in a deep snowdrift.
At this point, the navigator starts to use bad language and say God's name. The other men are terrified the devil will take their souls. They tie up their friend and choose someone else to steer. But the navigator soon breaks free and starts swearing again. The crew becomes more and more worried about losing their souls. They eventually steer the bewitched canoe right into a tall pine tree. The men fall out and are knocked unconscious.
The ending of the story changes in different versions. Sometimes, the men are condemned to fly the canoe through hell and appear in the sky every New Year's Eve. However, in most versions, all the men manage to escape the devil's deal.
Other versions of the tale include:
- An Acadian version where an axe handle stretches to fit everyone who climbs on.
- Another version where the devil himself is steering. He tries to break the rules on the way back. The men then throw him out of the canoe to save themselves.
In Quebec, the most famous version is by Honoré Beaugrand. In his story, the devil is quite fair. He allows the men to return safely, even after their mistakes.
How is the Flying Canoe Seen in Popular Culture?
The Chasse-galerie legend has appeared in many forms:
- Postage Stamp: A Canadian 40-cent postage stamp was released in 1991. It showed the "Witched Canoe" and was part of a series on Canadian folktales.
- Amusement Park Ride: One of the oldest rides at Montreal's La Ronde amusement park, called La Pitoune, is inspired by this legend. It's a log ride, and above it, there's a model of the flying canoe with the devil behind the scared men.
- Beer Label: The legend is the main picture on the label for Maudite, an ale made by the Unibroue brewery in Quebec.
- Science Fiction: The science fiction author Gordon R. Dickson wrote a story called "The Immortal" in 1965. It featured a French-Canadian spaceman piloting a ship named "la Chasse Gallerie."
- Animated Film: The National Film Board of Canada made a short animated film called The Legend of the Flying Canoe (La Chasse-galerie).
- Music:
* Claude Dubois sings a song called "Chasse Galerie" on his live album Rencontre de rêves (1992). * The Quebec folk band La Bottine Souriante recorded "Martin de la Chasse-Galerie" for their album La Mistrine in 1994. * The Montreal folk metal band Blackguard used an image of the flying canoe on their 2009 album Profugus Mortis. The album also includes a song based on the legend.
- Olympics: During the Opening Ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, a canoe with a fiddler was lowered from the ceiling. This was a nod to the legend.
- Other Films: The Flying Canoe also appears in Frédéric Back's 1981 animated film Crac.
What Adaptations of the Story Exist?
The story of La Chasse-galerie has been adapted into different forms:
- Radio Program: The radio show C'est la Vie retold the story on December 28, 2001.
- Feature Film: The first full-length film adaptation, Wild Run: The Legend (Chasse-Galerie: La Légende), was released in February 2016. It was directed by Jean-Philippe Duval.
- Stage Play: A stage play written by Tyrone Savage, with music by James Smith, was produced by the Soulpepper Theatre Company in Toronto in 2016.
