Quêteux

Quêteux lived a nomadic lifestyle, going from village to village along a preestablished route. They generally preferred small villages as poorer villagers were more generous. They remembered where they had been well received,^[1] perhaps even giving each other the address of generous hosts.^[2] Quêteux could be men or women, and entire families could be quêteux.^[1] The quêteux tradition has its roots in the troubadour of medieval France.^[3][4]

Quêteux asked for "charity in the name of the Good Lord".^[1][2] They were handed some money, given a meal^[2] or were hosted.^[1][5][6] Rather than by charity, quêteux were often helped to ease one's conscience and because of superstition.^[7]

The quêteux were often well-liked by the villagers.^[1][7] The quêteux would tell news and stories to villagers^[1][7][8][9] and thus gained remuneration. He could also gain money^[8] or payback his hosts by performing menial tasks.^[7][9] Some also played music.^[10][11] Quêteux were at the heart of veillées (traditional nights of celebration in Quebec) when present.^[1][7] Some quêteux were highly trusted and could be depended on for carrying letters.^[1]

Some quêteux were disliked by villagers. The quêteux from Saint-Gervais were known for their laziness. They would smoke pipes and rest during the harvest, and if asked to work, would claim to make more money by begging.^[1]

The quêteux could eat and stay at different homes within a single day. He was given supplies for the road. When a quêteux's bag grew too heavy, he sold some of its content for money.^[1]

The banc de quêteux (Quêteux's bed; a bed-bench) was given to the quêteux for sleeping^[1][12] when it was not used by a family's children.^[12] They would be placed at the home's entrance.^[9] The quêteux would otherwise sleep on a palliasse, a cart hide or the dog's carpet near the stove.^[1] Molasses was apparently placed around the palliasse to avoid lice from spreading^[8] (but that was likely a legend),^[9] and the palliasse was burned the following morning.^[8]

The quêteux was well-known in his parish, where he had a shack. He often had a nickname. When he lacked supplies, he usually got some from his neighbors. He was sometimes given menial tasks in exchange of remuneration.^[1]

There was some distrust against quêteux from outside the parish. During economic crises, villagers were more reluctant to help quêteux from outside their parish as the number of quêteux increased.^[1]

Quêteux would sometimes permanently stay at homes after staying there for a winter.^[6]

The quêteux eventually disappeared after begging from door to door was outlawed in the 1960s^[5][8] and became the modern homeless.^[3][9]

In Quebec folklore, the quêteux is a footloose vagrant. He is generally an older man lacking family, home, parish and work. Usually, he is humble, resigned and discreet.^[13]

However, quêteux could be hostile in rare cases,^[13] cursing those who had wronged them.^[1][13][14] Quêteux could dry off cows, make horses limp, turn bread into rock, render someone unconscious,^[14] kill animals and give lice.^[1]

The quêteux is relatable by his lack of means, but only partially due to a difference in degree. His hardships put into perspective one's daily struggles. The quêteux's place in Quebec folklore was likely brought about by the predominance of catholicism in Québec : he could be used to promote the values of love and charity.^[13]

For protection against a quêteux, one had to tell them Ouvrez! (Open!) instead of Entrez! (Enter!) or boil needles. In Trois-Rivières, saying À pretio, je te redoute! would also protect oneself from quêteux. Frying needles in oil could take off a quêteux's curse.^[14]

The quêteux is featured in many artistic works of Quebec; in cinema,^[15] literature and music.^[14]

• Ti-Jean Gagnon
• Adelme Porlier
• Thomas Pomerleau
• William Tremblay