Passadoc Gazette - N° 159

The Hebdo 159

You said left-handed?

Left... A particularity that in ancient times it was better not to have!

For the Catholic church, the left-winger is Satan's servant and for Islam, the left hand is unclean.
Superstitious Peter the Great forbids left-wingers to testify in court.
To enter the holy places, Pythagoras recommends using the right side which is divine.
In the Middle Ages, great misery for who is left-handed... and red! A woman suffering from these two « pain » is condemned to the stake.
Maori women shake their wedding clothes with their right hand; Using the left hand would awaken death.
Along the Niger River, preparing food with the left hand is to resort to black magic.
In France, in a treatise on psychiatry dating back to 1921, being left-handed is synonymous with dementia.

We could multiply the examples because the list is still long!

Have peace for the left-handed! Ancient Peru where to be left-handed is a sign of good luck.
And an annual and global event: International Day of left-handers (13 August).

According to recent statistics, left-wingers make up 10-15 per cent of the world's population. Researchers recognize, their artistic senses or their highly developed sports qualities and quote Leonardo da Vinci, Michel Ange, ... or Rafael Nadal.

– They're smarter than average... one day they'll dominate the world! Calm down... and not panic, there's 90 percent human left to bring them back to reason!

However, everyday gestures are not always easy for them because everything is done for the majority, starting with scissors!

– All this is beautiful... but where is our left-hander?

Patience... here he is!

Jeanne Monin

Research on many sites.

Photo of the late Peire Pascal, author of the most beautiful texts of songs in Provençal.

He holds his guitar from « Bad side ». Probably he was left-handed, I never asked him the question. In fact, there is no bad side, both are also good.

In France, there would be 7% left-wingers. They are more numerous in percentages in my village, among the families present before 1900. I've been investigating.
At kindergarten, the mistress gave slaps to force me to write with her right hand. I'm now clumsy with both hands.

In Provençal left-hander is said to be senequier. This particularity gave a common surname. There is a famous café of this name in a famous seaside resort.

AEdré Abbe

Patricia Jouve
I love her texts! Two CDs of songs I know by choir! A wonder of sensitivity! And what a writing! in a language that he possessed perfectly dau breç. His songs are a true testimony of the rural life of this past era.

Giselle Penat-Lorde
My brother Guy was also a left-winger (from Roquebrune) upset with stings in support, the super-method of the era used both by my paternal grandfather, the patriarch, and by teachers and schoolmasters, while my parents were largely in favour of the use of the left hand and against these stupid punitive measures... But were they entitled to the chapter at the time?

Not a very positive result in fact. If it is not that my brother was still later ambidextrous, especially by DIY in mechanics and various, encouraged to the army, if my memories are good, by an officer in Algeria, who had had to detect gestures and reflexes of left-handedness...

I also know Peire Pascal and some of his songs, including « The mala reputación« , (translation in Castilian for Georges Brassens, « Bad reputation ») « L-Arlatana » accompanied by Paco Ibañez).

We had some records at home... Old memories lost in some move.. So much, yes, beautiful songs, full of poetry, in turn cheerful, ironic, nostalgic, tender and naughty ... a great gentleman, certainly the best singer of our Provence!

For whom knows the Provencal, Jean-Jacques Murat wrote:

From "lei nièulo de ma prouvènço courroun davans lou mistrau" (l-americo) to "viravon lei tarara au tèmps de cauca lei blad" (the cavalo) passing through "la fouir de ton say that a so much fa vuvounia l-eissam dei cuou beni" (l-a-ami), "e nautre lou femelan nous dounara ges de fèbre" (la fueio), "saabre to vousre bèuta se mei cambo an de feblesso" (la valso), "e meme fau proun vièi queajougni vèire sus toun pèu negro levado", "avên pas inventa la poudre, mai lou plouumb sabèn doun vèn" (la valso), "e meme fau prouun vèi" (lubune ubeu du veuvou a feu how many wonders of poetry, of tenderness in this language of experience, in its time and space, embodied in its songs ...

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The particularity of Pierre Pascal, the notes of music
and the music of words awaken memories. Let's talk, we smile!

Saint Tropez... Senequier... School... And here's the surprise:
We have the same last name... Would we be cousins?

47 comments for the only day last Saturday!
That's Passadoc too!
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The Echoes of the Week
The Guardian Angels of Passadoc
Pauline and Mireille
Strong friendship
The goat of La Madonna de Fenestre
The dance of the strain
Passadoc
Expo. and leporello

The Guardian Angels of Passadoc

So much work accomplished, hours spent since the invention of the name "Passadoc" with Christophe Malherbe in 2014!

Team of both associations « Passadoc » and « Abbe Photo » are surrounded by guardian angels. The list is long!

When we set up the exhibition "Women of Provence", the guardian angels called Régine, Patrice and André (Passadoc), as well as Laura and Sylvette (ATP Museum of Draguignan). We installed in one day. It was a hell of a job!

You too behind your screens play the role of guardian angels: every day you "like", vo comment, you share, you talk about Passadoc around you.

Thank you all!

François Abbe

Pauline and Mireille

Pauline and Mireille... two stars from the exhibition Women of Provence !

Both had the responsibility to open and close the church. Pauline lived in Rigaud (Alpes Maritimes).

Mireille had another role: that of "Mami of the village" (it was Stephanie Dahan who blew the term!). Mireille and Stephanie lived in the same village, Roquebrune-sur-Argens (Var). They knew each other well. Stephanie even invited Mireille to come and see the exhibition "Women of Provence" that she organized. But Mireille died before the opening.

Meanwhile François (who writes these lines!) learn more about Pauline. Without knowing each other, the two women had so much in common. So, at the last minute, he decides to add Mireille's photo to the exhibition.

In the exhibition, there are photos from the iconotheque of the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions (9,000 photos kept under the responsibility of Sylvette Albrand) and photos of André. Then why add Mireille's photo?

On social media, the public loved the history of these two women. Then Mireille's picture had its place!

Upon his return from leave, Stephanie discovered the exhibition. And the surprise: his friend Mireille was there! The Grandma of Roquebrune is the permanent guest of the "Women of Provence"!

François Abbe

Stephanie is Head of Heritage and Museums at @Dracénie Provence Verdon Agglomeration. It is in Stephanie that we are invited to exhibit for the first time in a museum stamped in France; thanks Stephanie on behalf of our two associations Passadoc and Abbe Photo.

Giselle Penat-Lumbe
So many good memories of Mireille!

Unless I was mistaken, in her youth, she had lived on Rue des Douanes, not far from home.

And I had found it much later when I lived a few years at the 6th of the Barbacane impasse in the house of my maternal grandparents, before returning to the large family house on the Rue des Douanes in the low neighborhoods of Roquebruno.

I have above all warm and moved memories when my brother died in September 2000, followed by the year after Mother's tragic. Mireille was more than present on many occasions...

We met regularly at the cemetery, at the church, in this high part of the village and it often sounded at my barbacane door, just to take my news, if she hadn't seen me in a few days, and those of our « twin cats », Sido and Sacha, whose mother spoke to her so much, Two kittens a little turbulent who were Mother's sweet companions...

Strong friendship

Small holiday friendship for these kids who every afternoon meet on the beach, build castles, jump into the waves screaming with joy... A friendship that many years later still lasts...

Gift of life like the one André Abbe tells:

In 1967, an accidental meeting on a Lyon road changed my life.

André Laffont, a traveller with a big heart, offered a stop trip. This spontaneous generosity forged an unwavering friendship through years and trials.

Beautiful surprise of life like that of life based on solidarity and respect for nature. Our families have intertwined, sharing unforgettable moments, weddings and warm meetings.

André Laffont, a model of altruism and sustainable life, leaves a legacy of strong ties and precious memories.

Roya 06

The same friendship for these kids who every afternoon meet in the hamlet square of Roya, do collective games, descend to the river shouting with joy, climb to the pastures see the shepherds... a friendship that many years later still lasts.

The goat of La Madonna de Fenestre

André Abbe tells the story…

Maybe you don't know I can milk goats! I had learned from my chevrier friends in the Garrigue Gardoise which produced a delicious pelardon; I've never found such good anywhere else.

During the summer of the 1980s, in La Madone de Fenestre (Alpes Maritimes), I participated in a meeting with the themes of pacifism and non-violence. Big subject...

On the return of a walk to the Fenestre Pass, bordering Italy, I had found a goat who had separated himself from the flock of the sheepfold of the place. I had taken him back to the chalet in the diocese. Her breasts were swollen because she had not been treated for several days.

I had taken a saucepan and made the goat, which had aroused the esteem and admiration of my friends.

We shared the milk and then I brought the goat back to the sheepfold. His masters were not aware of his absence.

I forgot this episode before François sent this photo. Long live scanning negatives that refresh memory...

In fact, I confess, it is not very difficult to milk a goat; Well, that's another business.

Today, milking has become mechanical among farmers. There is no need to know how to make a good pelardon.

(Pelardon is a very small cheese with raw goat milk.)

This photo is one of the 100,000 of André Abbe's collection. Our non-profit association still needs to digitize and save 87,000 photos. You want to encourage us? Follow us, like, comment, share!

One last thing: don't miss La Madonna de Fenestre, one hour north of Nice, a magical, though popular destination. Go early in the morning to make the most of its charm!

The dance of the strain

Who knows Souche Dance?

It all starts with a vine stock. After Mass, the priest blessed this strain.

Then we dance to the sound of provencal musical instruments: galloubets and tambourines.

The song used is the Graces of Saint Mark. The lyrics are a mixture of Provençal, French and... Greek! This festive dance is given in the honor of Saint Mark.

A bouquet of flowers and an ear of wheat are added to the strain. The strain is then thrown into the flames. It is the symbol of the rebirth of new vine plants.

We dance around the stump. Once the fire is over, the ashes symbolize the earth. This dance can be done after harvest or simply at other times of the year. Another beautiful Provençal celebration.

One question remains: why is Saint-Marc considered to be the protector of winemakers? It is often said that Saint Vincent is the patron of the winegrowers...

François Abbe

Marie-Dominique Germain
... also for the feast of the transfiguration of Christ (who has Fréjus became the Feast of the Raisin) with an indult since the 4th century for the cathedral of Fréjus because one pours the juice of a bunch of grapes into the cup of wine during consecration instead of the usual water which represents our life associated with the blood of Christ.

We only dance after Mass and all year at religious holidays. The symbolism is not linked to Saint Mark, nor to the harvest, nor to the rebirth of the vine stock, but to the resurrection: that of Christ and ours.

The fire is that of the Spirit and the four daughters correspond to the four cardinal corners, i.e. the opening to the world. It's a bit short but I could expand!

Ghislaine Manjon
I don't know this tradition, but I'm an amateur of everything that affects viticulture; I had decorated my house with the image of wine, the vine, the tools of osco harvester!

Giselle Penat-Lorde
Saint-Marc, Saint-Vincent, competition between the patron saints of the vineyard according to the regions, the wineries and the era!

Saint Vincent: Patron of winegrowers and winegrowers
Saint Mark: Patron of winegrowers – also patron of cattle and sheep farmers
There is a third, also patron of the winemakers: Saint Werner and/or Saint Vernier says Saint Verny in Auvergne.

And that is not all, since no less than thirty holy figures are known to work for the protection of the vine and wine, including Saint Martin, Saint Morand, Saint Urban, Saint Victor ...

This great diversity comes from the hagiography of martyrs, where wine is often assimilated to shed blood.

However, the adoption of a cult figure by the winegrowers can be linked to the life of the saint himself, as the legend states:

According to the winemakers of the region of Tours, for example, it is Saint Martin who would have introduced the cultivation of the vine in the Loire Valley, and his donkey would even have discovered the principle of size by grazing a vine! Throughout the year, different saints can be invoked at times critical to the vegetation of the vineyard: Saint Morand, celebrated on June 3, is thus supposed to protect from late frosts and promote a good flowering.

In the 20th century, the cult of St. Vincent will be the most widespread. It seems to have its origin in Île-de-France, where the wine growers once depended on the eponymous abbey, which later became Saint-Germain-des-Prés. After that it would have extended to other vineyards.

When I was working on Lyon and I lived in the heart of a Beaujolais vineyard for a time, it was more Saint Vincent in general that was honored.

A lot of brotherhoods in Provence and Occitanie bear the name Confrérie de Saint-Marc. Others from Saint Vincent. Some are very old and would even go back to the tenth century. Like the Confrérie de Saint-Marc in Villeneuve-lez-Avignon.

The feast of Saint Mark in April, initiated by the brotherhoods, has its origin in ancient pagan festivals:

In Gaul, the cult of Bacchus, the Roman god of vine and wine, was spread as far as Provence, then country of vines.
This Roman divinity and these manifestations come from Greek mythology and its festivals, Dionysos and the « Dionysia ».
The feast of St. Mark is similar to the Roman feasts known as the Robigalia in honour of Robigo, divinity which was invoked in order to preserve the wheat from the « nielle », or rust plants.

The Dance de la Souche, or Brand of Saint Mark, appeared very early in the Provençal brotherhoods – in a mixture of lay and religious there again.

« Dance of winegrowers, performed in the Middle Ages on the day of Saint Mark, it is characterized by the constant saltations and the oscillation of the body. The dancer's jumps manifest prayer at Saint Mark and recall the gesture of the winegrowers trampling on the grapes.

The dancers then perform a chain jerk, screaming « Vivo la Souco » and « Vivo lou maiou », interspersed with a song of « Thanks to Saint Mark.«

Each brotherhood, if I do not make a mistake, has moreover its own rites, songs, dances, restored to the taste of the light for a few years, always in respect of traditions.

Expo. and Leporello!

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These are cited in The Gazette :
André Abbe
François Abbe
Claude Boyer
Marie-Dominique Germain
Patricia Jouve
Ghislaine Manjon
Jeanne Monin
Jean-Jacques Murat
Roya 06
Editor in Chief
Jeanne Monin