The biggest festival of Norman language and culture came back to Jersey in 2005 - traditional dancing, singing, stalls, food and drink. Performers from Jersey, Guernsey and mainland Normandy. Fun for all the family!

In 2005 the Fête Nouormande went to Trinity for the Bank Holiday weekend, 28th-30th May 2005. In partnership with the RJA&HS, there were three days of traditional culture from Jersey, Guernsey and mainland Normandy - not to be missed!

Even the cows were mooing in Jèrriais, after a week of Jèrriais-flavoured street entertainment in St. Helier culminating in the by-now traditional parade in costume of participants on the Friday evening.

The 2005 programme ran as follows:

Monday 23^rd May

The week-long Fête kicked off at La Société Jersiaise (5.30pm) in St. Helier with the sell-out launch of the Dictionnaithe Jèrriais-Angliais - Jèrriais-English Dictionary.

Tuesday 24th May – Thursday 26th May

In and around St. Helier, there was promotion of the language in markets and shops.

Street entertainment (music, singing, poetry, bachîn ringing) with special appearances by the group La Sagesse Nouormande playing hurdy-gurdies and other traditional instruments.

Exhibition/display at the Maîson de Normandie.

Tuesday 24th May
Guided walk round town with poetry (5.45pm)

Wednesday 25th May
(8pm): Bachîn ringing workshop at the Arts Centre
Learn how to get strange music from the traditional preserving pan! Formerly a custom to drive away evil spirits, bachîn ringing is now a folklore tradition that over the past few years has become a regular event at the Fête Nouormande and other Jersey events. Bring your own bachîn, if you have one as a family heirloom, or just come along and try one of ours. All welcome, young and old. Entry free.

Thursday 26th May

• (1.05pm): Lunchtime concert, La Sagesse Nouormande, Arts Centre
• : Guided walk with poetry ( 2.30pm)
• (5.45pm): "La Mé, ch'est mé", poetry reading on a maritime theme in the Arts Centre bar

 

Friday 27th May

Dancing and music in the pedestrian streets of Town ... come along to Wests Centre at 2.30pm and 5pm to find out more about traditional dances.
In the early evening at 6pm a parade of participants through Town in traditional costume with flags from the Islands and the Norman mainland (to be followed by a vin d'honneur for participants at St. Helier Parish Hall)

 

Saturday 28th May - Monday 30th May

Three days of Fête Nouormande in Trinity.

Fête Nouormande 2005 is the cultural attraction of the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society's Foire de Jersey (along with cattle shows, crafts, stalls, Norman produce market.....)

Performances:

The hallowed programme in the marquee of recitations, poems, stories, playlets and songs (of course, including the perennial patriotic favourites: Ma Normandie, Man Bieau P'tit Jèrri, Sus la Mé, Sarnia Chérie)


There was a church service in Jèrriais on the Sunday morning (starting at 12 noon) before the start of the programme at the RJA&HS.

Attractions:

Norman produce market

Traders from mainland Normandy set up stall to sell their delicious wares, including Calvados and other products of the apple orchard, cheeses and traditional bread. Bouôn appétit!

Book stall

The book stall offered a range of publications in and about the languages of Jersey, Guernsey and mainland Normandy: books, booklets, dictionaries (including the freshly-launched Jèrriais-English Dictionary), cassettes, CDs, CD-ROMs and gift items.

Displays and talks

Materials relating to the languages of Jersey, Guernsey and mainland Normandy were on display. A guided walk around the surrounding lanes of Trinity took plae on Sunday morning starting at 11am. The by-now traditional prom'nade ès cats (catwalk) - Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 2pm - offered a chance for an explanation of the significance of the different regional costumes.

Festive anthology

As usual, a booklet contained the texts of songs, stories and poems to be performed during the week-long Fête and was on sale from festival venues, so even those whose Jèrriais, Dgèrnésiais or Norman may be a little rusty (or non-existent) had the chance to follow the words as the performances unfold.