During the family Christmas celebration to be held at the Acadian Museum of Prince Edward Island, in Miscouche, on Sunday, Dec. 16, there will be a contest to choose the most beautiful "naulet."
People are invited to make an “naulet” and bring it to the museum. Those attending the celebration will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite “naulet.” A prize will be awarded to the creator of the one that received the most votes.
A “naulet” or “aulet” is a biscuit or cake made in the shape of a child. It is sometimes described as a pastry doll. Before Santa Claus discovered the Acadian communities, it was the only gift that a child received at Christmas. As Jerome A. Gallant, a native of Rustico, wrote in 1931: "On Christmas morning there was nothing more urgent for young children than to go to get their ‘aulet’ that their godparents never failed to prepare for them.”
Judith Arsenault, of Saint-Chrysostome, born in Bloomfield in 1875, remembered that “naulets were made with a rich dough. They were shaped like a doll and they were really good.” When she was raising her family, she used to make them and put them in her children's Christmas stockings.
According to Marie-Blanche Harper of Tignish, born in 1916, the naulet was not eaten on Christmas Day. "I didn't want to break it. That was like a keepsake.” According to her, “children were as happy with their naulet as children are nowadays with the very expensive gifts they receive from Santa.”
The naulet varied in size and was generally made with a leavened dough, but also sometimes with a sugar cookie dough. Raisins were used to make the eyes, mouth, nose and buttons of the coat.
This Acadian tradition originates from the central-western region of France, where the naulet was also a cake or biscuit in the shape of a child and associated with Christmas. It was sometimes said that it represented the Christ Child.
The family Christmas celebration at the Acadian Museum is organized by the Sister Antoinette DesRoches Historical Committee and the Acadian Museum in collaboration with La Belle-Alliance ltée of Summerside. It will be held 1:30-4 p.m. Admission is free.
