The family Christmas event at the Acadian Museum will take place on Sunday afternoon, December 3. Like last year, there will be a naulet contest, which was very popular last year.

 

What is a naulet or aulet? It's a small bread or cookie made in the shape of a child. It's sometimes described as "a dough doll". Before Santa Claus made his visits in Acadian communities, it was the only present a child received at Christmas. As Rustico native Jérôme A. Gallant wrote in 1931: "On Christmas Day morning, there was nothing more urgent for young children than to go to their godfather and godmother to receive the 'aulet' that they never failed to prepare for the occasion."

 

Judith Arsenault, from Saint-Chrysostome, born in Bloomfield in 1875, recounted that "aulets were made with a good fat dough. They were made like dolls, and they were really good." When raising her family, she would make them to stuff into her children's Christmas stockings.

 

Naulets varied in size, and were generally made with yeast dough, but sometimes with sugar cookie dough. Raisins were used to make the eyes, mouth, nose and coat buttons.

 

People of all ages are invited to make a naulet and bring it to the Acadian Museum. The contest will feature two categories: one for children and one for adults. Participants will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite ones. Prizes will be awarded to those whose naulets gathered the most votes.

The Christmas celebration at the Acadian Museum is organized by the Sister Antoinette DesRoches Historical Committee in association with the Acadian Museum, and with the support of La Belle Alliance and the Prince Edward Island Community Cultural Partnership Program. The event runs from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm. Admission is free, but donations will be greatly appreciated.