Quebec to create annual flag day to celebrate Fleur-de-lis

The fleur-de-lis flies over the town hall of Saint-Denis-de-Brompton, Que. in this undated photo.

QUEBEC -- Quebec will create its own annual flag day to fete the Fleur-de-lis, every Jan. 21.

Premier Pauline Marois made the announcement Monday on the 65th anniversary of the adoption of the Quebec flag, which replaced the Union Jack in the province in 1948.

"The history of the Fleur-de-lis is a powerful one. It's the history of all Quebecers. Let's be proud," Marois said.

"It reflects our identity and is the affirmation of our shared roots."

For Monday's celebration, events were held in different municipalities and schools and they were organized in collaboration with the pro-independence group the Mouvement national des Quebecoises et Quebecois, according to a statement from the government.

Quebec will now have an annual event similar to the one created by the federal government in 1996.

On Feb. 15 of that year, just months after the country nearly broke up in the Quebec referendum vote, the Chretien government created the National Flag of Canada Day.