A long long time ago in France, the Gaules and the Romans knew about elections; the Romans were into that. About this time, pagan stuff and Roman gods and christianity were all mixing in a mega-pagan France. France had big cities in the north where people spoke French but the rest of 'France' consisted of 'pagus' - pays [pronounced pe - yee] - meaning 'my land' as far as the church bell rang. They all had their own languages and their own ways of governing. They all still have oldy-worldy traditions that the others don't know about.
What more splendid symbol of fertility than the May Pole?? Especially in the north of England, where ribbons burst forth from the summit of said pole and about which virgins (such as I, junior school, in Oldham) danced and weaved.
In the Périgord (and a bit in the Lot), the May Pole is erected on several occasions: marriage; the birth of children; being elected to the local council.
I have been at the installing of several May poles for local council reasons, but this is the first time that I have done it for a mariage!
So, yesterday afternoon (I'm soo ragged this morning), we all met in the top square at 6.30. We had tons of beer and food but most importantly, instruments of music and a long pine tree stripped up until its end decorated with paper flowers, accompanied by a beautiful garland made by Sandrine and a heart-shaped board with "Nearly Married" written upon it. We met a distance away from our destination which was la rue des Consuls. We began to walk down the round, banging drums and blowing horns, carrying the May tree."Anne, Anne, Anne, Henriiiiiiiiiiii" we all shouted.
They were in their house with friends who were 'in the know', and they wondered what the noise was about. Could this be the tourist train with people singing? Surely not! Then we all arrived, yelling and singing; ."Anne, Anne, Anne, Henriiiiiiiiiiii"
When they came out of their house, they were so moved!! All of us singing and blowing horns with this beautiful May Pole. Olivier had organised everything and used wire to attach the Pole to the down spout and his drill for the heart-shaped sign. Hope that there won't be a storm.
We all charged into their house, grabbed their tables and chairs and unloaded eleventy-seven beers and food. The men went off with Henry to Olivier's house, leaving the girls alone. Next, the guys drove down to Groléjac lake and threw him in it, then dressed him as Obélix, complete with helmit and a red wig, and drove around Domme showing him off in an open-roof car like a pope-mobile. Then they drove back.
We girls did what you would expect: karaoke; throwing people in the swimming pool; self abuse with food and booze; screeching like only women together can do.
Before Henry left, I told him that it was the first May pole I have installed for a mariage.
"Moi aussi!" he said.
What more splendid symbol of fertility than the May Pole?? Especially in the north of England, where ribbons burst forth from the summit of said pole and about which virgins (such as I, junior school, in Oldham) danced and weaved.
In the Périgord (and a bit in the Lot), the May Pole is erected on several occasions: marriage; the birth of children; being elected to the local council.
I have been at the installing of several May poles for local council reasons, but this is the first time that I have done it for a mariage!
So, yesterday afternoon (I'm soo ragged this morning), we all met in the top square at 6.30. We had tons of beer and food but most importantly, instruments of music and a long pine tree stripped up until its end decorated with paper flowers, accompanied by a beautiful garland made by Sandrine and a heart-shaped board with "Nearly Married" written upon it. We met a distance away from our destination which was la rue des Consuls. We began to walk down the round, banging drums and blowing horns, carrying the May tree."Anne, Anne, Anne, Henriiiiiiiiiiii" we all shouted.
They were in their house with friends who were 'in the know', and they wondered what the noise was about. Could this be the tourist train with people singing? Surely not! Then we all arrived, yelling and singing; ."Anne, Anne, Anne, Henriiiiiiiiiiii"
When they came out of their house, they were so moved!! All of us singing and blowing horns with this beautiful May Pole. Olivier had organised everything and used wire to attach the Pole to the down spout and his drill for the heart-shaped sign. Hope that there won't be a storm.
We all charged into their house, grabbed their tables and chairs and unloaded eleventy-seven beers and food. The men went off with Henry to Olivier's house, leaving the girls alone. Next, the guys drove down to Groléjac lake and threw him in it, then dressed him as Obélix, complete with helmit and a red wig, and drove around Domme showing him off in an open-roof car like a pope-mobile. Then they drove back.
We girls did what you would expect: karaoke; throwing people in the swimming pool; self abuse with food and booze; screeching like only women together can do.
Before Henry left, I told him that it was the first May pole I have installed for a mariage.
"Moi aussi!" he said.