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Sur le pont d’Avignon… about the Bridge of Avignon and its Song

The Thirteen Desserts of Christmas – Les Treize Desserts de Noël

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Sur le pont d’Avignon… about the Bridge of Avignon and its Song

Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008

Many people know the song Sur le pont d’Avignon (On the Bridge of Avignon). During my recent trip to France, I was lucky enough to see the actual bridge that the song is about.

Here is what the real Bridge of Avignon looks like…

Though the words to the song are about dancing on the bridge, if you were to actually try to dance across it, you’d end up in the river! This bridge is broken – and is actually only partially there!

The bridge was first built in the 12th century. However, the Rhone River beneath it kept damaging it. It was repaired and rebuilt many times. Finally, in the 1600’s they gave up and stopped fixing it.

You can still visit it today, as we did last month. I’ve been humming the song ever since!

Avignon was also the site of the papacy during the “Babylonian Captivity” of the fourteenth century. Today, the impressive palace where the Popes resided is open to the public. Here’s a photo of it…

Here are the lyrics to Sur le pont d’Avignon in French, with an English translation and the midi tune…

Midi Tune of Sur le pont d’Avignon

Sur le pont d’Avignon
(French)

Refrain
Sur le pont d’Avignon
On y danse, on y danse
Sur le pont d’Avignon
On y danse tout en rond

1 Les beaux messieurs font comme ça
Et puis encore comme ça.

Refrain

2 Les belles dames font comme ça
Et puis encore comme ça.

Refrain.

On the Bridge of Avignon
(English Translation)

Chorus
On the bridge of Avignon
They are dancing, they are dancing,
On the bridge of Avignon
They are dancing all around.

1 The handsome gentlemen go this way,
And then again go that way.

Chorus

2 The pretty dames go this way,
And then again go that way.

Chorus.

Many thanks to Monique Palomares of Mama Lisa’s World en français for the midi tune and to Calvin Pomerantz for the second photo of the Bridge of Avignon!

Come visit the Song Page of Sur le pont d’Avignon for sheet music, a Spanish translation and other information about this song.

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, France, French, French Kids Songs, Languages, Mama Lisa, Provence, Sur le pont d'Avignon | 7 Comments »

The Thirteen Desserts of Christmas – Les Treize Desserts de Noël

Thursday, December 21st, 2006

At Christmastime in Provence, in the south of France, there’s a tradition of having a Christmas meal consisting largely of vegetables, followed by 13 desserts. 13 signifies the number of people at the last supper – Christ and his 12 apostles. The table should be decorated with 3 candlesticks, representing the Trinity. The meal and dessert are eaten before the family goes to midnight mass on Christmas.

Traditionally, a place was also left at the table for ones ancestors. The leftover food was left out all night. This way the ancestors could take part in the meal too. (There’s a similar Day of the Dead custom in Mexico, of leaving out food and a place at the table for ancestors.)

It is very important that there are at least 13 desserts – also called Les Treize Desserts de Noël. The 13 desserts can vary depending upon tradition. Generally, they are:

1. Black Nougats – Symbolizing evil – Hard candy made with honey and almonds.
2. White Nougats – Symbolizing good – Soft candy made with sugar, eggs, pistachios, honey, and almonds.

These four are supposed to symbolize beggars, represented by four religious orders (Franciscans, Dominicans, Carmelite Nuns, Augustinians):

3. Dried Figs
4. Almonds
5. Hazelnuts or other nuts
6. Dried Grapes

The symbol of Mary and Jesus’ safe journey from the East:

7. Dates

Some of the other desserts eaten, depending on the region, are:

Oranges
Clementines
Apples
Pears
Grapes
Quince Paste
Melon
Calissons d’Aix (almond-paste pastry with sugar icing)
Oil Cake called Fougasse or Pompe à l’huile (made with Orange Flower Water and Olive Oil)

Finally with these desserts, one drinks cooked wine, representing Jesus himself.

One must have a taste of each dessert to have good luck for the whole year.

Bon appétit!

-Lisa

Many thanks to Monique Palomares of Mama Lisa’s World en français for telling me about this tradition!

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Posted in Christmas, Countries & Cultures, Desserts, France, French, Holidays Around the World, Languages, Provence, Recipes of the World, The Thirteen Desserts of Christmas - Les Treize Desser | 4 Comments »

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