Written by Staff Blogger, Brenna
Did you know you should plant cucumbers the night before a full moon? Or that it’s bad luck to sail on a Friday?
At least, these tips are true, according to Acadian legends!
Most of these stories come from my own family in New Brunswick, but Acadians are found all over the Maritimes! To represent that fact, a tale or two is taken from books. I wish to sincerely thank my cousins Darlene and Jeremie for their invaluable help in compiling this piece in honour of Acadian Heritage Month 2026.
Bateau qui Brule - The Boat that Burns
The Northumberland Strait is home to a ghost ship!
It’s said that a large boat with white sails could be seen in the Strait. Suddenly, it would burst into flames! On shore, people would climb into their own boats, rushing out to see if there were people in need of rescue. When they got close, the burning boat would disappear into thin air.
The Goose Gullet Bean
During le Grand Dérangement (the Acadian Deportation), many Acadians fled into the woods to escape the British soldiers, leaving their homes and farms behind. Often, Acadians were helped by the First Nations of the Wabanaki Confederacy. Still, surviving along the coasts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick was very difficult. They could only eat wild grain, or what little food stores they had brought with them.
One day, a group of Acadians managed to shoot a wild goose. When they cleaned it, they discovered beans in the goose’s throat, completely undigested and in perfect shape for planting. When it was possible to settle down and start farming again, the seeds were planted. They grew into a very productive plant—a perfect winter staple that is still enjoyed today!
The Lost Gold of South Mountain
Most of what is now called the Annapolis Valley used to be Acadia.
When le Grand Dérangement happened, it’s said that the fleeing villagers buried all their coins and other valuables near South Mountain. The gold has never been found.
People in the region do report seeing strange lights and hearing the faint sound of digging, though. Maybe the villagers have returned for their gold?
**This story is adapted from the book "The Seven-Headed Beast and Other Tales from Acadian Cape Breton Island" collected by Anselme Chiasson and translated by Rosie Aucoin Grace. This version has been edited down by a lot, so please check out the book itself!
The Seven-headed Beast and Other Acadian Tales From Cape Breton Island
The Boy Who Was Good Company
This story is about a King and Queen. They had been married for eight years, but they had no children.
Eventually, the Queen gave birth to a baby girl. When the baby was three months old, the King asked the Queen if she would like to go for a horse-and-buggy ride by the river.
When they had been riding for a while, they heard the sound of a baby crying. There was a box floating down the river with a baby in it! They decided to take the baby home, so he could be company for their daughter. They named him "The Boy Who Was Good Company."
When both children were sixteen, the King and Queen realized that their daughter, the Princess, had fallen in love with The Boy Who Was Good Company. They decided that they couldn't let their daughter marry an orphan they found in a river. The next day, the King accompanied the kids to school. He told the Teacher: "During recess, keep The Boy Who Was Good Company inside for extra lessons. Give him this poison to drink."
Little did the King know, the Princess was hiding behind a desk. When it came time for recess, the Teacher asked The Boy to stay inside. The Princess insisted she wanted to attend the lessons as well, and would not leave The Boy's side. The Teacher could not give The Boy poison to drink while the Princess was watching.
It was clear to the Princess that The Boy had to leave. She gave him a letter, 100 dollars, and a red handkerchief with both their names embroidered in the corners. She also promised that she would wait for him to return, and then they would get married.
The Boy went off into the world. He became a steamship captain, making him handsome and rugged. Years later, he took his steamship back to the kingdom. He snuck into the palace, and discovered that the Princess was getting married the next day!
When he approached the Princess, she didn't even recognize him. When he showed her the red handkerchief, she threw her arms around him, and said that he had been gone for so long, her parents were forcing her to get married to a prince tomorrow at 10 o'clock
.
At 9 o'clock the next day, The Boy had his first mate invite the King and Queen to tour his steamboat. While they were getting a tour, he and the Princess snuck out and got married. When the King and Queen returned to the palace, they found The Boy Who Was Good Company and the Princess waiting for them, holding their marriage certificate. The King was then arrested for trying to poison The Boy Who Was Good Company.
This is only a small sample of the Acadians legends and folklore that exist throughout the Maritimes! Happy Acadian Heritage Month, and remember: for the best cucumbers, plant them the night before the full moon!
Sources
Chiasson, A. (2004). The Seven-Headed Beast and other Acadian tales from Cape Breton Island (R. A. Grace, Trans.). Breton Books.
Creighton, H. (2025). Bluenose magic. Nimbus Publishing.
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