Quebecois Curses Courses

Quebecois curses, also known as holy curses, are a French-Canadian form of cursing found in Quebec. These curses are generally used with great passion and volume, and often include words regarding deities (such as God and the Virgin Mary), animals, and physical objects. Despite the strong religious connotations of Quebecois curses, they are rarely expressed as blasphemous or profane, as they are often expressed in terms of giving a person thunder or lightning, rather than directly attacking a higher power. Quebecois curses can be the result of a person experiencing rage, disappointment, or frustration, and are usually not intended to be used with malicious intent. Typical Quebecois curses involve accusations of God or the VirginMary, for example: "God damn it!", "God damn you!", "Lord have mercy!", "Holy Jesus!", "Holy Mary mother of God!", or"Jesus, Joseph and Mary!" Other popular phrases include "Damn it to hell!" and "Carpet of snakes!" The meanings behind these phrases are often incorrectly assumed due to the strong religious connotations they include. Many of the curses are actually expressions of disbelief and frustration towards a situation, rather than a specific person. Quebecois curses are a unique way of expressing intense emotion, and can be heard among the French-Canadian population - both in more rural areas, and in the cities. Although these types of curses are easy to recognize, they are unlikely to be used in polite conversation.