The 71e Santa Claus parade in downtown Montreal takes place on Saturday and, this year, he will have an aerospace engineer by his side: Farah Alibay as the Star Fairy.
“As a child, if someone had told me that the Star Fairy in 2023 would be an immigrant, queer and an engineer, I wouldn’t have believed it! », says Farah Alibay on the phone.
“I represent someone different, unexpected, that’s what’s beautiful. I think each Star Fairy brings their own personal touch to the character. My connection is more direct since my job is to study the stars and that’s why I accepted this inspiring role. My message for young and old is to be able to dream, to have ambitions and to persevere,” explains the woman who works at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a research center affiliated with NASA.
According to Glenn Castanheira, general manager of Montreal downtown, we couldn’t imagine a better Star Fairy. “Farah Alibay makes us dream, she is magical and so inspiring! he says. She makes us proud collectively with her journey and her personality. »
Each year, to choose the Star Fairy, her team seeks an inspiring personality who reflects the identity of downtown Montreal. “We also rely on our producer partners,” he explains, “we seek to have a consensus and we make the decision. »
In the past, Ima, Marie-Mai, Marie-Ève Janvier, Joannie Rochette and Vanessa Pilon, in particular, have been Star Fairies. Last year, the choice of the Barbada drag queen was not unanimous. “We cannot be both the bearer of diversity and inclusion and achieve unanimity. The choice of the Star Fairy reflects Montreal’s identity, and Montreal’s identity is not unanimous. You only need to have a conversation about Montreal to realize the diversity of opinions,” says Glenn Castanheira.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Glenn Castanheira, general manager of Montreal downtown
There will always be someone who disagrees with the choice, but so far, Farah Alibay is unanimous.
Glenn Castanheira, general manager of Montreal downtown
A Quebec invention
Santa Claus parades have existed in Montreal since the beginning of the 20th century.e century. They were organized at the time by the various stores in the city, recalls Jean-Philippe Warren, professor in the department of sociology and anthropology at Concordia University.
“Christmas is a commercial holiday, but we had to add magic to it all. So, over the years, we invent characters. There is Santa Claus who comes from the North Pole, the elves who make the gifts, then we add Mother Christmas who we see less here, but who is very present in the United States… and the Star Fairy who seems be a purely Quebec invention, because we don’t see it elsewhere,” he observes.
PHOTO ROBERT SKINNER, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Jean-Philippe Warren, professor in the department of sociology and anthropology at Concordia University
It also appears at the beginning of the 20th century.e century. “The inspiration probably comes from Perrault’s tales where there are fairies. And we built our own mythology. She is the opposite of Santa Claus. She is a young, refined, delicate feminine figure, she welcomes children, she is very gentle and above all she has a more fanciful side, because she can dress differently every year,” explains the author of the book. Hooray for Santa Claus!.
We can’t reveal anything about the Star Fairy costume created by Marie-Claude Chailler, alias Marie-Cocotte, but Farah Alibay confides that it will be surprising.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
The 70e Santa Claus parade on Sainte-Catherine Street, November 19, 2022
The costume will be true to my image, and it won’t be what you’d expect for a Star Fairy. I’m really excited. The parade will be a great moment of amazement.
Farah Alibay
Farah Alibay remembers with a laugh: “My little brother believed in Santa Claus, he was 4 years old, I was 7, and already, being the great scientist that I was, I had shown him that he did not exist! »
Another dimension
“With Farah Alibay, we enter another dimension. A brilliant aerospace engineer with an incredible trajectory. There are no more limits to dreams. You can imagine yourself exploring the planet Mars! The children will ask Santa Claus for a set to explore the planets… we are in a new dimension and it is so much richer. We should name her a Star Fairy for life! », exclaims Jean-Philippe Warren.
Farah Alibay has dreams too. “A big childhood dream was to be an astronaut,” she confides. My role as Star Fairy comes very well since I work on the telescope SPHEREx which will be launched into space to study around half a billion galaxies. Which will help us understand the beginnings of our universe. »
The official start of the Santa Claus parade is scheduled for 11 a.m. on René-Lévesque Boulevard, opposite Esplanade Place Ville Marie. Farah Alibay admits to being a little nervous, but so happy. “Young people will perhaps see a part of themselves in me,” thinks the Star Fairy. It allows you to dream, but also to see that everything is possible. »