Erik Caouette Recalls His Mother’s Christmas Tradition of Welcoming People Who Were Alone

For Erik Caouette, Christmas memories from childhood in Chapais are closely tied to an act of generosity. The 2Frères singer says his mother made a point of inviting anyone who had nowhere to spend the holiday to join the family, so no one would be left alone at a time associated with sharing. Asked what Christmas was like when he was young, Caouette recalled a routine that began with an early bedtime. His parents would put the children to bed, then wake them at around 10 p.m. so they could go to Christmas Mass. The celebration continued after they returned. The gathering took place at Chapais’s youth centre, he explained. Two or three families would come together there, bringing relatives and friends along. It was a communal celebration, rather than a holiday spent only within one household. The singer’s description highlights the welcoming spirit his mother brought to the occasion. If she knew someone was alone, she invited that person to the table, Caouette said. The practice ensured that others could share in the meal and company, making hospitality part of the family’s Christmas tradition. His recollection offers a glimpse of the holiday customs that shaped his childhood in the northern Quebec town. Beyond the late-night Mass and the gathering at the youth centre, the memory that stands out is his mother’s determination to make room for people who might otherwise have spent Christmas by themselves.