Question: What does it mean to be a Félibrige?
The Rue des Félibriges whispers tales of a movement. It was dedicated to preserving the Occitan language. This street in Paris is named in honor of the Félibrige. The Félibrige was founded by Fréderic Mistral and other Provençal writers in 1854. Their goal was to defend and promote the langue d’Oc. This included Provençal, Languedocien and Gascon. It also encompassed Auvergnat, Limousin, Catalan, Béarnais and Périgordian.
The Félibrige aimed to promote the culture of the Pays d’Oc. They did this through literature and theater. They also used song, music and cinema. The Félibrige worked to make Occitan culture known and respected. They targeted public opinion and government officials. Their main actions involved publishing books and magazines. They also organized conferences, debates and various events.
A félibre is a passionate person. He reflects on how to preserve his region’s language. He also considers its culture, spirit, values and people.
Seven young Provençal poets met on May 21, 1854. They gathered at the Château de Font-Ségugne for a banquet. Their project was to restore Provençal literature. According to Fréderic Mistral, the group included Joseph Roumanille. It also featured Paul Giéra, Théodore Aubanel and Alphonse Tavan. Jean Brunet and Anselme Mathieu were also members.
The Félibrige arrived in Haute-Auvergne with the poet Arsène Vermenouze. He created a Félibrige journal called “Lo Cobrteto”. The first issue was published in 1895. It had 7,000 copies and was illustrated by Félix Tourdes. Tourdes was a famous Auvergnat painter. This Félibrige journal had several periods. Arsène Vernemouze, Henri Dommèrgues and Jean Fay were involved. Michel Bonnet is the current president.
Sceaux is famous for its Félibrige festivals. This tradition has continued for over a century. It began after the tomb of the poet Florian was discovered in Sceaux. Florian was a precursor to the Félibrige.
In May 1878, Provençal poets visited Sceaux. They were in Paris. They discovered Florian’s tomb. Florian lived at the court of the Duke of Penthièvre in Sceaux. They remembered that Florian was from Languedoc. He had written a poem in langue d’Oc. Paul Arène and Valéry Vernier were members of the Félibrige. Surprised, they decided to return to Sceaux each year. The Félibrige tradition of Sceaux was born.
The Veillée d’Auvergne et du Massif Central is a cultural society. It is literary, artistic and Félibrige. Eugène de Ribier founded it in 1908. It is also a French magazine. It is published in the Auvergnat language. It was created in 1909. It continued the project of Lo cobreto. It used Mistralian spelling.
The Société des félibres de Paris was founded in 1879. It aims to defend and promote the langue d’oc. It is affiliated with the Félibrige. The Félibrige defends all regional languages of France. It also supports unofficial languages in Europe.
So, as you walk along the Rue des Félibriges remember. This street is a tribute to the Félibrige movement. It celebrates the preservation of Occitan language and culture.