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Archive for the 'Occitan' Category
Contents
Posts
An Old Song in the Language of the Troubadours, with a YouTube Video
Friday, March 12th, 2010Ai vist lo lop, lo rainard, la lèbre (I saw the wolf, the fox, the hare) is an old Occitan song. Occitan is the language of the troubadours. It’s still spoken in southern France, parts of Spain and Italy. Some sources believe the wolf, the fox and the hare in this song represented the King, Lord and Church, all authorities who collected taxes – leaving nothing for the peasants. Here are the lyrics in Occitan, followed by an English translation and a YouTube video…
Ai vist lo lop, lo rainard, la lèbre
Ai vist lo lop, lo rainard, la lèbre
Ai vist lo lop, lo rainard dançar
Totei tres fasián lo torn de l’aubre
Ai vist lo lop, lo rainard, la lèbre
Totei tres fasián lo torn de l’aubre
Fasián lo torn dau boisson folhat.Aquí trimam tota l’annada
Per se ganhar quauquei sòus
Rèn que dins una mesada
Ai vist lo lop, lo rainal, la lèbre
Nos i fotèm tot pel cuol
Ai vist lo lèbre, lo rainal, lo lop.English Translation:
I saw the wolf, the fox, the hare,
I saw the wolf, the fox dance.
All three were circling round the tree
I saw the wolf, the fox, the hare,
All three were circling round the tree,
They were circling round the sprouting bush.Here we slave away all the year round
So we can earn a few coins
And just in a month’s time
I saw the wolf, the fox, the hare,
There is nothing left
I saw the hare, the fox, the wolf.Check out the song page for Ai vist lo lop, lo rainard, la lèbre for the score, midi, mp3 and French and Spanish translations.
Check out this metal version of the song!
Many thanks to Monique Palomares from the French and Spanish versions of Mama Lisa’s World for the translation!
Enjoy, but remember the tax collector is still around, nowadays in a different guise!
Mama Lisa
Proverbs about March from Europe
Saturday, March 6th, 2010Monique Palomares works with me on the French and Spanish versions of Mama Lisa’s World. She sent me some proverbs about March from different European countries in response to a post I did about Italian Proverbs about March. Here’s what Monique wrote…
Here are some proverbs in Occitan, Catalan, French, Spanish, Portuguese and German about March.
I chose the “cuckoo” March proverbs on purpose to show that some things cross borders and languages. There’s an Italian proverb that says more or less the same thing about cuckoos, but it’s about April:
A’ cinque d’aprile, il cucco deve venire; se non viene a’ sette o agli otto, o ch’è preso o che è morto.
On April 5th, the cuckoo must come, if it doesn’t come on the 7th or the 8th, either it’s been taken or it’s dead.Occitan Proverbs about March:
(Occitan is the language of the troubadours, spoken in southern France and parts of Italy and Spain.)Quand en març trona, l’annada serà bona .
When it thunders in March, the year will be good.Al mes de març, tan de nívols coma de clars .
In the month of March, as many clouds as clearings.Se plòu en març, adiu lo blat .
If it rains in March, there will be no wheat. (Literally, “Farewell to the wheat”.)Quand març maieja, mai marceja.
When March acts May-like, May acts March-like.. (I like these verbs built on the name of a month and meaning “to act name of the month-like” that exist in Occitan and Catalan.)Entre març e abrial, se lo cocut es pas vengut , es qu’es malaut o s’es perdut!
Between March and April, if the cuckoo hasn’t come, it must be ill or lost.Catalan Proverbs about March:
No hi ha Març que no marcegi, ni boig que no bogegi, ni fill d’ase que no brami.
There’s neither a March that doesn’t act March-like, nor a madman who doesn’t act mad, nor a son of an ass that doesn’t bray. (I like this one!)Pel Març qui no té sabates ja pot anar descalç.
In March, he who has no shoes can now go barefoot.De flor de Març, fruit no en veuràs.
On March flowers, you’ll see no fruit.Si pel març no canta el cucut, ni per l’abril la puput, tant de bo que l’any no hagués vingut.
If by March the cuckoo doesn’t sing, and by April the hoopoe bird doesn’t, the year might as well not have come.French Proverbs about March:
En mars quand il fait beau, prends ton manteau.
In March, when the weather’s fine, take your coat.Soit au début soit à la fin, Mars nous montre son venin.
Either at the beginning, or at the end, March shows us its venom.Mars sec et chaud, remplit caves et tonneaux
A dry and warm March fills cellars and casks.Entre mars et avril, on sait si le coucou est mort ou en vie.
Between March and April, we know if the cuckoo is dead or alive.Spanish Proverbs about March:
Marzo engañador, un día malo y otro peor.
Deceiving March, one day bad and the next one worse.Marzo marcero, por la mañana rostro de perro, por la tarde valiente mancebo.
“Marchy” March, in the morning the face of a dog, in the evening a brave young man..Marzo con lluvias, buen año de alubias.
March with rain, good year for beans.En marzo, la veleta, ni dos horas está quieta.
In March, the weathervane doesn’t keep quiet for even two hours.Si marzo se va y el cuco no viene, o se ha muerto el cuco o el fin del mundo viene.
If March goes away and the cuckoo doesn’t come, either the cuckoo died or the end of the world is coming.Portuguese Proverbs about March:
Se queres bom cabaço, semeia em Março.
If you want a good basket, sow in March.Quem poda em Março, vindima no regaço.
Whoever prunes in March; grapes harvest in his lap.Em Março, cada dia chove um pedaço.
In March, it rains a little every day.Vento de Março e chuva de Abril, vinho a florir.
March wind and April rain; thriving wine.Em vinte cinco de Março, se o cuco não se ouvir, ou é morto ou não quer vir.
On March 25th, if the cuckoo can’t be heard, either it’s dead or it doesn’t want to come.German Proverbs about March:
Nasser März ist Bauernschmerz.
Rainy March is the farmers’ grief.März grün, Jungfrau kühn.
Green March; bold young woman.Märzenschnee Tut der Frucht weh.
March snow wounds the fruit.So remember, in March, even if the weather’s fine, take your coat!
Cheers!
Monique
Mama Lisa Now Has a Facebook Group
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009We’d love it if you’d join the Mama Lisa Facebook Group. You can post anything you’d like about your culture. You can post your own musical recordings or YouTube videos… Links to culture and musical sites… Photos of your country… Questions about songs or cultural issues… Anything related to World Culture and Music…
Click on the icon below to access the group. If you have a Facebook account already, you just need to click on “Join the Group” to join. If you’re not a member, you simply have to sign up for free to become a member and then you can join the Mama Lisa Group…
Looking forward to seeing you in Facebook!
Mama Lisa
Torrin Soup for Newlyweds, From the Occitan Region of Southern France
Tuesday, January 13th, 2009Guest blogger, Monique Palomares works with me on Mama Lisa’s World en français. Monique grew up speaking the Occitan language in southern France. Occitan was the language spoken by the troubadours – largely in southern France – but also in parts of Spain and Italy.
Last week, Monique wrote about an Occitan Wedding Custom and Song from France. The custom revolves around a soup called Torrin, that’s given to the newlyweds. Here’s the recipe from Monique…
Recipe for Torrin Soup for Newlyweds
(Serves 4)Ingredients
A large spoonful of goose or duck fat (or oil)
5 or 6 garlic cloves
A spoonful of flour
2 eggs
Salt & Pepper
Vinegar
(I usually use wine or balsamic vinegar but it’s just a dash of it so I suppose you can use any.)1. Boil 4 to 6 cups of water in a pot.
2. Put the fat in a large frying pan and slowly fry the garlic, but don’t allow it to brown. Add the flour, stirring it quickly.
3. Pour in the boiling water. Add salt and pepper. Allow to boil for 15 min.
4. Separate the egg yolks and whites. Beat the yolks with a dribble of vinegar.
5. After 15 minutes, pour the egg whites into the garlic/flour mixture and stir quickly. Lower the flame. Add the yolks, stir and DO NOT allow to boil (or the yolks will coagulate and you’ll have yellow threads instead of a beautiful yellow broth).
Torrin Soup can be served with croutons or thin slices of bread.
In some areas they cook it with equal amounts of onions and garlic, then they sprinkle grated Swiss cheese on top and broil it in the oven.
My mother used to cook it. She’d use oil, not goose fat. She used peanut or sunflower oil, but you can use olive oil or any frying oil. The “genuine” recipe is with goose or duck fat. My mother also added vermicelli in step three, after the water started to boil again. Then came the egg whites and the yolks. But we didn’t serve it with bread, the vermicelli would be enough carbohydrates! We called it “Soupe à l’œuf” – “Soup with egg”.
“Torrin” is a word from the South-West.
-Monique
Wedding Custom and Song in Occitan from France
Thursday, January 8th, 2009Guest blogger, Monique Palomares works with me on Mama Lisa’s World en français. Monique grew up speaking the Occitan language in southern France. Occitan was the language spoken by the troubadours – largely in southern France – but also in parts of Spain and Italy.
Recently, Peter emailed us asking about the lyrics of a Gascon Occitan song called “Lo torrin”. (Gascon is an Occitan Dialect.) Peter’s wife is learning how to play the “boha” (the Gascon bagpipe) and he wanted to sing along. He got the lyrics and forwarded them to us.
The song “Lo torrin” is a “wedding song” that the wedding party-goers would sing to the newlyweds. “Lo torrin” specifically refers to a garlic soup spiced with pepper. This soup was traditionally brought to newlyweds on the morning after their wedding night.
In this old tradition, the bride and the groom would ride around the village in a cart with their brand-new chamberpot, on their wedding day. It symbolized the start of their new life together and it also let people know about their wedding. Remember that at that time there were no bathrooms, only outhouses. Yet people wouldn’t go out at night to “go” in the outhouse (”la cabane au fond du jardin”*). During the evening meal and party the newlyweds would sneak out around midnight and they would go to sleep at some accomplice’s place (an aunt’s, a grandma’s…). Later in the night or early in the morning, the young people at the wedding (those in their late teens and their twenties) would search for them. When they found them, they’d get them out of bed so that they could eat the soup that had been cooked especially for them.
In some areas, they wouldn’t cook a soup, they would pour into a brand new chamberpot the leftovers of the drinks with chocolate and biscuits (nobody needs further description to guess what it was supposed to look like). This was supposed to help them recover from the wedding night.
When I was a child and in my neighborhood the bride and groom wouldn’t tour around the town with their brand-new chamberpot, but they’d still be gotten out of bed. Nowadays the tradition survives in some places. Since nobody now uses chamberpots, “pots de la mariée” (brides’ chamberpots) are still on sale for this event.
*”La cabane au fond du jardin” refers to the little wooden cabin used as toilets at the other end of the garden and it’s also the title of a spoof song imitating the style of the French singer Francis Cabrel.
Below, you can hear Jane Thomasson playing the “boha” and Peter Horton singing the first verse of the song. After that you’ll find the lyrics in Occitan, and then an English translation…
Click to Hear the first verse of Lo Torrin
Lo torrin
(Gascon Occitan)Obritz la pòrta, obritz (x2)
La novèla maridada luron lonla (x2)Vos portèm lo torrin (x2)
E la sopa ben pebrada luron lon la (x2)Coma obrirei jo (x2)
Que soi dens mon lheit cochada luron lon la (x2)Au pròche de mon marit (x2)
Que me ten tota embraçada luron lon la (x2)Que me ten e me tendrà (x2)
Tota la nèit empenada luron lon la (x2)Se perdèvi mas amors (x2)
Ont las anguerei o quèrre luron lon la (x2)Seren per debat París (x2)
A dus cent cinquanta legas luron lon la (x2)Dabans la pòrta i a (x2)
Un grand pè de heuguèra luron lon la (x2)Dens ‘quera heuguèra (x2)
Un beròi nid de tortèla luron lon la (x2)La tortèla i a cohat (x2)
E apèi s’es envolada luron lon la (x2)En partint a feit rocó (x2)
E la bèra n’es plus bèra luron lon la (x2)Obritz la pòrta, obritz (x2)
La novèla maridada luron lon la (x2)Se no l’obrissètz pas (x2)
En ‘questa ora vos l’enfoncèm luron lon la (x2)The “Torrin”
(English Translation)Open the door, open it, (2 x’s)
You, bride (newlywed) luron lon la…We bring you the tourrin*
And the soup spiced with pepper.How would I open it
If I’m lying in my bed?Close to my husband,
Who holds me in his arms**.Who holds me and will hold me
Saddened, all night long.If I lost my love
Where would I go for him?He’d be, northwards, near Paris,
250 leagues from here.In front of the door is
A big fern.In this fern is
A pretty turtle dove nest.The turtle dove hatched there
Then she flew away.When she left, she went “coo”,
And the pretty one isn’t pretty any more.Open the door, open, (twice)
You, bride.If you don’t open it
Now we’ll break it open.Click here for the Lo torrin Song Page – where you can access the Sheet Music, midi tune and French and Spanish translations.
Note: There are some other songs about getting married in Occitan and French, most of which are addressed to girls. They’re along the lines of Joan Baez’s song The Wagoner’s Lad: “Oh hard is the fortune of all womankind, she’s always controlled, she’s always confined, controlled by her parents until she is wife, a slave to her husband the rest of her life!”
Many thanks to Peter Horton for contributing the lyrics to “Lo torrin”and the sheet music (which came from the “Bohaires de Gasconha”), and for singing the first verse for us, accompanied by Jane Thomasson playing the “boha” (local bagpipe).
-Monique Palomares
UPDATE: Here’s a Recipe for Lo Torrin Soup!
French and Occitan Christmas Carol Links
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008Here are some Carols you can find the lyrics and translations to and often an mp3, midi, score, YouTube video and French and Spanish Translations – just click the link to access them:
Occitan Christmas Carols
Nadal tindaire – Jingling Christmas – from Occitania
Nadal tindaire – Jingling Christmas – Recording only – from OccitaniaPastres, rintratz vòstrei tropèus – Shepherds, Bring Your Flocks In – Occitania
Lo paure Satan – Poor Satan – OccitaniaFrench Christmas Carols
Nous étions trois bergerettes – We Were Three Young Shepherdesses – France
Patapan – France
Willie Take Your Little Drum – English Version of the French Carol Called PatapanEnjoy!
Mama Lisa
An Occitan Poem for Autumn
Monday, September 22nd, 2008Here’s a short, pretty, Occitan poem to mark the start of Fall. Occitan is a language spoken in parts of southern France, Spain and Italy. It was the language of the troubadours.
Monique Palomares, who works with me on Mama Lisa’s World en français, sent sent the poem to me.
The poem was written by Louisa Paulin (1888 – 1944). Below you’ll find the original poem in Occitan with a recording, followed by an English translation. The translation was mainly done by Monique, with a little help from me. It was recited by Monique.
Silenci de l’auton
(Occitan)Silenci de l’auton quand lo vent s’es pausat
doç coma una pluma de palomba
escapada de la negra man del caçaire.
Silenci saure de l’auton
ont s’ausis la darrièra vèspa
e lo mai escondut al plus prigond del còr.Recording of Silenci de l’auton
Here’s an English Translation:
Silence of the Fall
by Louisa PaulinSilence of the Fall when the wind calmed down
as soft as a dove’s feather,
slipped from the hunter’s black hand.
Golden silence of the Fall
when one hears the last wasp
and what’s most hidden in the depths of the heart.Many thanks to Monique for the poem, recording and translation!
Mama Lisa
How to Find Sheet Music, Tunes and MP3’s on Mama Lisa’s World
Saturday, January 6th, 2007In addition to this blog, I also host Mama Lisa’s World. Mama Lisa’s World is a large collection of children’s songs and rhymes from countries all around the globe.
Matt, a music teacher from Rhode Island, wrote a question to me, the other day, about Mama Lisa’s World:
Hey Mama,
I love the concept of your site. It’s been exciting to watch it grow. My only frustration is not being able to find either written (preferably) or audio music to accompany the lyrics. How do I find the tunes for all these great lyrics?
Matt
Music Teacher, Rhode Island, USAHere’s what I wrote back, I’m sharing it with you, in case it helps you too…
Hey Matt,
Thanks for writing!
We’ve just added basic sheet music to a lot of songs on the Germany, France, Hungary, Spain and Mexico pages – plus many others.
We’re now in the process of converting the whole site to a database. We’re halfway through. Hopefully by the summer we’ll have a feature that will let you do a search on songs that have sheet music, midis or mp3’s. Midis play the tune of a song. MP3’s are recordings – usually of someone singing the song.
But for now, the songs on the countries that are in the database are working on a simple system. On the country pages they have symbols next to the song if they have special features. Here’s the key…
KEY TO SYMBOLS
– this song has sheet music
Midi – this song has a Midi tune
MP3 – this song has an MP3 recording
– this song has a Video recording
If there’s anything in particular you’re looking for, you’re welcome to ask – in case I know if we have it or not – I may be able to guide you to the right place to find what you’re looking for.
And, of course, we’re always looking for more sheet music, midi’s and mp3’s, so if you’d like to contribute any from your culture, we’d be thrilled!
I hope this helps!
Mama Lisa
Occitan Christmas Carol – “Paure Satan”
Wednesday, December 27th, 2006Here’s an Occitan Christmas carol sung by Monique Palomares of Mama Lisa’s World en français. (Occitan is a language spoken in parts of southern France, Spain and Italy. It was the language of the troubadours.)
Paure Satan is about the Devil having a hard time because of Jesus’ birth. Below you’ll find the lyrics in the original Occitan, followed by an English translation and then a French translation…
Lo paure Satan
(Occitan)Lo paure Satan es blet
Se’n va cuèch coma un polet
Morrà de la macadura
Tura lura lura
I a un pichòt que lo tafura
Lan lan tura lura lura loL’enfant que ven d’arribar
L’a quasi coma crebat
L’a mes en paura postura
Tura lura lura
Pareirà plus qu’en pintura
Lan lan tura lura lura lo.La Pruneta e lei Mions
Li an donat de baston
L’an colhut dins la fritura
Tura lura lura
Sembla paura pescadura
Lan lan tura lura lura lo.Se disiá diable d’onor
E fasiá lo grand senhor
A mordut una poma dura
Tura lura lura
Una poma non madura
Lan lan tura lura lura lo.Poor Satan
(English)Poor Satan is drained
He’s as cooked* as a chicken
He’ll die from the bruises
Tura lura lura
There’s a little one worrying him
Lan lan tura lura lura loo.The child who’s just arrived
Nearly like killed him,
He put him in a bad position
Tura lura lura
We won’t see him but in paintings**
Lan lan tura lura lura loo.Prunette and the Mions***
Beat him with a stick
They fried him in fat
Tura lura lura
He looks like a mean catch
Lan lan tura lura lura loo.He’d say he was a devil of honor
And he’d act as if a great lord
He bit a hard apple
Tura lura lura
An unripe apple
Lan lan tura lura loo.*“cuèch” = “cooked, done, baked” also means exhausted and allows this play on words.
**idiom: to see someone (only) in paintings means not to see him at all.
***Pet name for “Mireille”, a typical Provencal girl’s name.Le pauvre Satan est blet
(French)Le pauvre Satan est blet
Il part cuit comme un poulet
Il mourra de la meurtrissure
Tura lura lura
Il y a un petit qui lui donne du souci
Lan lan tura lura lou.L’enfant qui vient d’arriver
L’a pratiquement crevé
Il l’a mis en mauvaise posture
Tura lura lura
Il ne paraîtra plus qu’en peinture
Lan lan tura lura lura lou.La Prunette et les Miouns*
Lui ont donné du bâton,
Elles l’ont cuit dans la friture
Tura lura lura
Il ressemble à une misérable pêche,
Lan lan tura lura lura lou.Il se disait diable d’honneur
Et faisait le grand seigneur
Il a mordu une pomme dure
Tura lura lura
Une pomme pas mûre
Lan lan tura lura lura lou.Many thanks to Monique Palomares for contributing and translating this song and for singing it for us!
-Lisa
Occitan Christmas Custom
Thursday, December 14th, 2006Hugues Bernet is a teacher in a school in France where the Occitan language and culture are taught. (Occitan is a language spoken in parts of southern France, Spain and Italy. It was the language of the troubadours.)
Hugues wrote to me about a custom they follow in his school at Christmastime. It involves a recitation in Occitan. Here’s what he wrote:
Here is a small Occitan custom that’s practiced at Christmastime. I don’t know it’s date or precise origin (the term “cachafuoc” for “Yule log” comes from the Cévennes mountains in south central France). Nonetheless, in the school where I work, we organize a little party for Christmas where we recapture this custom.
During this party the gifts are given out to all the people there. That’s the “soca” (a log) that brings the gifts. Two people (the youngest and the oldest of the group) carry the log into the room and say a ritual phrase in Occitan:
Bota fuòc, cachafuòc,
que nos alegre,
que nos fague la jòia d’èstre aquíi l’an que ven,
e se sèm pas mai,
que siaguem pas mens!English Translation:
Light up, Yule log,
Delight us,
Give us the joy to be here next year,
And if we aren’t more numerous,
Let us not be less!Many thanks to Hugues for sharing this nice saying and custom with us!
-Lisa
Mama Lisa’s World News and Multimedia Features
Thursday, November 30th, 2006A significant part of the Mama Lisa sites is a large collection of songs and nursery rhymes from around the world. We currently have about 750 songs from around 90 countries and cultures.
When you consider how many languages there are in those cultures – that’s a lot of information! In order to make it easier to access all of the songs, we are in the process of converting the sites to a database. The database allow our visitors to search for songs on the site by language, by songs with sheet music, recordings, etc.
While we’re putting the songs into the database, we’re trying to obtain as much information as possible about each song. So if we can find the tune, we’ll include a midi tune and sheet music. If we find a recording of the song on the internet, we’ll provide a link to the recording. Sometimes we’ll make a recording ourselves. Anything we can do to help you know everything possible about that song.
If you happen to see any songs on the site that are missing a tune or recording and you know it, we’d be very pleased if you could help us get the tune. We’re able to make midis from sheet music, if that’s what you can send. We’re also happy to post recordings if you’d like to sing the song, play it on an instrument, or even hum it. Really, anything to help others get an idea how to sing or play the song.
Once the database is complete Mama Lisa’s World will have 98 countries and cultures and over 850 songs. How great is that!
-Lisa
UPDATE: The Database is now complete! We have 100 countries and cultures. We’re now working on a Spanish version of Mama Lisa’s World which will feature children’s songs, folks songs and nursery rhymes from around the world with Spanish translations.
Rain, Rain, What do “you” say?
Thursday, July 13th, 2006Rain must hold a special place deep in the human psyche. Expressions about rain have such interesting imagery. I can’t think of many words that evoke such vivid images.
For instance, in English, if it’s pouring out, you can say, It’s raining cats and dogs. If there’s thunder, some people say God is bowling. At least that’s said to little kids.
You can also say, It’s raining buckets. That’s interesting because in French, there’s the same expression, Il pleut à seaux.*
The French also have the saying, Il pleut comme vache qui pisse. In English, that’s… It’s raining like a cow that’s pissing.
More politely, the French would say, Il tombe des cordes. That expression is literally, It’s falling ropes, or we’d say, Ropes are falling.
There are also expressions for more violent rain. In Spanish there’s, Caen chuzos de punto. Which means, Spears are falling point first. Similarly, in French there’s, Il tombe des hallebardes. That means, Halberds are falling. A halberd is a weapon that was used during the 14th and 15th centuries. It has a spiky axe on the end of a pole. You can see halberds in the image below. They sort of look like falling rain.
Finally, in Occitan (a language spoken in parts of southern France, Spain and Italy) they say, Tomba de rabanelas. That means, Wild radishes are falling. They also say, Tomba de pèiras de molin – Mill stones are falling.
Feel free to comment below about expressions concerning rain that are said in cultures you’re familiar with.
Many thanks to Monique of Mama Lisa’s World en français for telling me about some of the expressions about rain in French, Spanish and Occitan.
Lisa
Come visit the blog category about rain for some songs and rhymes about rain.
*UPDATE ABOUT “RAINING BUCKETS”:
Monique later wrote me…
Spaniards also say, “Llueve a cántaros” to say “it’s raining buckets”. It literally means the same thing. Portuguese have the same expression about buckets, “Está a chover a cântaros” = it’s raining buckets. Italians have “piove a catinelle”, which means “it’s raining basins/bowls”.
The Four Horsemen of the Cold
Saturday, April 22nd, 2006By Monique Palomares
St. George’s Day is on April 23rd.
In France, Saint George’s Day is the first of the four “Horsemen” or “Horsemen of the Cold” (in French Les Cavaliers or Les Cavaliers du froid). What we call The Horsemen are 4 days at the end of April and beginning of May on which the weather is generally colder. Gardeners and vine growers are weary of late frosty days. The second one is St Mark’s Day (April 25th), the third one is St. Eutropius’ Day (April 30th), The fourth is The Invention of the Cross (May 3rd) and sometimes a 5th one is added: St John before the Latin Gate (May 6th). In Occitan, we call these days Jorget, Marquet, Tropet, Croset, Joanet. (Sometimes “Tropet” is left aside.)
Later come what we call “Les saints de glace” (The Saints of Ice). They are St. Mamertus, St. Pancratius and St. Servatius (in French St Mamert, St Pancrace, St Servais) on respectively May 11th, 12th, and 13th. On those days the weather’s supposed to be cold.
You won’t find these days on a regular calendar. The Catholic Church removed them in 1960. They seemed to be… “not very Catholic” (this expression means “not very Kosher”, so to speak). When they’re over, Winter is definitively over and Summer is on its way.
Monique works with me on Mama Lisa’s World en français. – Lisa
A Troubadour Song about Spring from the 12th Century
Sunday, April 9th, 2006The troubadours were poet musicians who lived between the 11th through the 13th centuries. They spoke Occitan, a romance language that can still be heard in parts of southern France, Italy and Spain.
Monique of Mama Lisa’s World en français sent me a troubadour song about the Springtime. Here’s what she had to say about the song…
I translated Al’entrada del temps clar (When the Clear Days Come) into English. It’s an anonymous song from the 12th century about Spring, with the usual allegory of the young Spring Queen needing a young man in the dance of life, so she can renew. It’s a troubadour song which is a trobar lèu song, lèu meaning here light, easy.
Here’s Al’entrada del temps clar in the original Occitan language followed by an English translation. If you’re familiar with any of the romance languages, you might be able to recognize some words in the Occitan version.
A l’entrada del temps clar
(Occitan)A l’entrada del temps clar, eya
Per jòia recomençar, eya
E per jelós irritar, eya
Vòl la regina mostrar
Qu’el’es si amorosa
A la vi’, a la via, jelós,
Laissatz nos, laissatz nos
Balar entre nos, entre nos.El’ a fait pertot mandar, eya
Non sia jusqu’à la mar, eya
Piucela ni bachalar, eya
Que tuit non vengan dançar
En la dansa joiosa.
A la vi’, a la via, jelós,
Laissatz nos, laissatz nos
Balar entre nos, entre nos.Lo reis i ven d’autra part, eya
Per la dança destorbar, eya
Que el es en cremetar, eya
Que òm no li vòlh emblar
La regin’ aurilhosa.
A la vi’, a la via, jelós,
Laissatz nos, laissatz nos
Balar entre nos, entre nos.Mais per nïent lo vòl far, eya
Qu’ela n’a sonh de vielhart, eya
Mais d’un leugièr bachalar, eya
Qui ben sapcha solaçar
La dòmna saborosa.
A la vi’, a la via, jelós,
Laissatz nos, laissatz nos
Balar entre nos, entre nos.Qui donc la vezés dançar, eya
E son gent còrs deportar, eya
Ben pògra dir de vertat, eya
Qu’el mont non aja sa par
La regina joiosa.
A la vi’, a la via, jelós,
Laissatz nos, laissatz nos
Balar entre nos, entre nosWhen the Clear Days Come
(English)When the clear days come, eya
To be joyful again, eya
And to annoy the jealous ones, eya
The queen wants to show
That she’s so amorous.
Go away, go away, you jealous ones,
Let us, let us,
Dance together, together.She had a message sent everywhere, eya
That as far as the sea, eya
Let there be neither maiden nor young man, eya
Who shall not come to dance,
The joyous dance.
Go away, go away, you jealous ones,
Let us, let us,
Dance together, together.The king comes, eya
To disturb the dance, eya
For he is very afraid, eya
That someone will want to steal,
The April Queen.
Go away, go away, you jealous ones.
Let us, let us,
Dance together, together.But she wouldn’t let him do it, eya
For she needs not an old man, eya
But a graceful young one, eya
Who would well know how to comfort,
The delightful lady.
Go away, go away, you jealous ones,
Let us, let us,
Dance together, together.Whoever would see her dance, eya
And her pretty body move, eya
Could well say, in truth, eya
That in all the world she has no equal,
The joyous queen.
Go away, go away, you jealous ones,
Let us, let us,
Dance together, together.***
Monique further mentioned…
About the Occitan word that’s in the song, joia, in the troubadours’ time, the word had a very strong meaning of joy of life, it was a very deep feeling of happiness.
Many thanks to Monique for translating this song for us and for her interesting comments.
You can hear an MP3 of A l’entrada del temps clar. Follow the link, then click on the lightening bolt icon to hear the recording.
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World’s Occitan Page for more Occitan Songs, and the Mama Lisa’s World Blog Occitan Page for more about Occitan.
A Word in the Occitan Language that Means “March-like Weather”
Sunday, April 9th, 2006The weather here in New York has been on again, off again rain. There’s actually a verb in the Occitan language for this type of weather. (The Occitan language is a romance language that’s mainly spoken in southern France.)
The verb in Occitan is marcejar. It means “March-like weather”, meaning sun, then sudden rain, then sun again.
Marcejar comes from the Occitan word for March, which is Març. Març is similar to the French word for March, which is Mars. They’re pronounced the same.
I love finding words that exist in one language but not in others. If you know of any words like this, please share them in the comments below.
Thanks to Monique of Mama Lisa’s World en français for pointing out this interesting word to me.
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World Occitan Page for Occitan Songs.
Please Send An Endearing Term for Grandma and Grandpa in Your Language
Wednesday, March 15th, 2006Kathy wrote me…
Dear Mamalisa,
I was delighted to find your website and will be using it in the future. I am researching translations for the word “grandma” in various languages. I am most interested in the familiar, sweet terms children might call this individual. I am aware that in some cultures this would be a different word for the mother or the father’s side of the family. I have spent hours on Internet, through many websites as well as your website and links. I have thus found: Cajun, Hawaiian, Ukrainian, Italian, Scottish, Irish, Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, French, Spanish, and Farsi. I am not clear about Russian or Greek since I am not completely sure of their letters. Now I am certainly not expecting you to do hours of research for my project. But I thought you might be familiar with an easier way for me to accomplish my task.
For example, I happened on a page called “I Love You” in Various Languages and found 18 pages for “I love you”. Wow! Anyway, whatever help you can give me would be much appreciated.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Kathy
If anyone knows any endearing terms for “grandma” and “grandpa”, including any in those languages listed, please comment below.
Thanks!
Lisa
Burning Monsieur Carnaval for Mardi Gras in France
Monday, February 27th, 2006In France, Carnival is a big celebration held before the beginning of the Christian fasting season of Lent. French adults and kids who celebrate Carnival will dress up in costumes and have parties. And, as I discussed last week, at the end, they will burn an effigy of Monsieur Carnaval.
Monsieur Carnaval… is responsible for all the wrongdoing people do throughout the year. At Carnival time in France, Monsieur Carnaval is judged for his behavior throughout the preceding year. Usually he’s found guilty and an effigy of him is burned at the Carnival.
While Monsieur Carnaval is burning, people dance in a circle around the fire singing (in French)…
Adieu pauvre Carnaval. Tu t’en vas et moi je reste pour manger la soupe à l’ail.
Here’s an English translation…
Goodbye poor Carnaval. You are leaving, and me, I am staying to eat garlic soup.
The soup is made with garlic, a vegetable, since, once Carnival is over, it’s time for Lent. Traditionally during the fast, meat was not allowed to be eaten.
There’s a similar song in Occitan called Adiu paure Carnaval (Farewell Poor Carnival). Occitan was the language of the Troubadours. It’s still spoken in some areas of Southern France (and some regions in Spain and Italy.) As the effigy burns, Adiu paure Carnaval is sung, speaking of Monsieur Carnival leaving the singer to eat garlic and oil soup.
Here’s Adiu paure Carnaval, in Occitan, with an English translation and an mp3 recording.
Adiu paure Carnaval
(Occitan)Adiu paure, adiu paure,
adiu paure Carnaval
Tu te’n vas e ieu demòri
Adiu paure Carnaval
Tu t’en vas e ieu demòri
Per manjar la sopa a l’alh
Per manjar la sopa a l’òli
Per manjar la sopa a l’alh
Adiu paure, adiu paure,
adiu paure CarnavalLa joinessa fa la fèsta
Per saludar Carnaval
La Maria fa de còcas
Amb la farina de l’ostalLo buòu dança, l’ase canta
Lo moton ditz sa leiçon
La galina canta lo Credo
E lo cat ditz lo PaterFarewell, Poor Carnival
(English)Farewell, farewell,
Farewell, poor Carnival
You are leaving, and I am staying
Farewell, poor Carnival
You are leaving, and I am staying
To eat garlic soup
To eat oil soup
To eat garlic soup
Farewell, farewell,
Farewell, poor Carnival.The young ones are having a wild time
To greet Carnival
Mary is baking cakes
With flour from her home.The ox is dancing, the donkey’s singing
The sheep is saying its lesson
The hen is singing the Credo
And the cat is saying the Pater.Many thanks to Monique Palomares, of Mama Lisa’s World en français, for teaching me about the tradition of Monsieur Carnival and for translating and singing the song.
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World Occitan Page for more Occitan Songs.
Occitan Saying about the End of the Year
Thursday, December 29th, 2005Monique Palomares at Mama Lisa’s World en français sent me this Occitan saying about the end of the year. (Occitan was the language of the Troubadours.)…
“Per santa Luça lo jorn creis d’un pè de puça, per Nadal d’un pè de gal, per l’An Nòu d’un pè de buòu.”
“For St. Lucy, the day lengthens by a flea’s pace, for Christmas by a rooster’s pace, for New Year’s by an ox’s pace.”
Monique wrote, “…this saying was true before Pope Gregory XIII changed the calendar on October 15th 1582. At that time St. Lucy’s was on December 23th (after the solstice). On December 23rd, the sun sets 1 minute later than on December 21st. On December 25th the sun sets two minutes later and on January 1st it sets eight minutes later (at 50° North latitude).
Many thanks to Monique and Mr. Palomares for this Occitan saying.
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World Occitan Page for Occitan songs.
Jingling Christmas – An Occitan Carol with an MP3 Recording
Wednesday, December 21st, 2005Here are the lyrics to Nadal Tindaire (Jingling Christmas) an Occitan Christmas song. The song is in Occitan and with an English translation…
MP3 Recording of Nadal Tindaire
Nadal tindaire
(Occitan)Avèm ausit las aubadas
Que se’n venon de sonar
Sus de trompetas dauradas
Dison qu’un Daufin serà
L’una fa :”Tarara tararèra
Lintampon ladèri tampon”
E l’autra li fa lo respon :
“Tarara tararèra
Lintampon ladèri tampon”
Novèl vengut pichon poponQuand dintrarem dins l’estable
Li tirarem lo capèl
Li direm : “Enfant aimable
Venèm vos cantar Noël”
Un farà “Tarara tararèra
Lintampon ladèri tampon
E l’autre farà lo respon :
“Tarara tararèra
Lintampon ladèri tampon”
Novèl vengut pichon poponSonatz pifres e trompetas
Timbalas e caramèls,
O vos claras campanetas
Ambe lo còr dels angèls
Digatz-li “Tara tararèra
Lintampon ladèri tampon”
E cadun farà lo respon :
“Tarara tararèra
Lintampon ladèri tampon”
Novèl vengut pichon poponHere’s the English translation by Monique Palomares…
Jingling Christmas
(English)We’ve heard the morning tunes
That have just been played
On golden trumpets
They say it’ll be a Daufin (King’s son)
One goes : ” Tarara tararèra
Lintampon ladèri tampon”
The other answers back:
‘Tarara tararèra
Lintampon ladèri tampon”
Welcome, little baby.When we enter the cowshed
We’ll take our hat off for him
We’ll say to him “Lovely child,
We’ve come to sing to you for Christmas”
One will go ” Tarara tararèra
Lintampon ladèri tampon”
The other will answer back:
‘Tarara tararèra
Lintampon ladèri tampon”
Welcome, little baby.Play, fifes and trumpets
Timpani and pipes
Or you, clear little bells
Along with the angels choir
Tell him “Tarara tararèra
Lintampon ladèri tampon”
And everyone will answer back:
“Tarara tararèra
Lintampon ladèri tampon”
Welcome, little baby.Many thanks to Monique Palomares at Mama Lisa’s World en français for sending me the lyrics to Nadal Tindaire and for the English translation.
Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World Occitan Page for more Occitan Children’s Songs.
________
Copyright ©2009 by Lisa Yannucci. All rights reserved.
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