Seven points gleam on a star. Does that star remind you of anything? This is a symbol of the Félibrige. We are standing at Lotissement le Felibrige in Marseille. This is not just a street name. It echoes a movement that sought to protect a language and culture.
Lotissement le Felibrige connects us to a literary and cultural association. It was founded in 1854 by Fréderic Mistral and other Provençal writers. Their mission was to defend and promote the Occitan language. It is also called the langue d’Oc. The Félibrige is presided over by a capoulié. The name Félibrige might come from a Provençal story. It tells of Christ debating with seven doctors of law in the temple.
The word félibrige comes from “félibre” a word with unclear origins. The Félibrige was founded at Château de Font-Ségugne on May 21, 1854. This day is also known as Saint Estelle’s day. Seven young Provençal poets founded it. They were Théodore Aubanel, Jean Brunet, Paul Giéra, Anselme Mathieu, Fréderic Mistral, Joseph Roumanille and Alphonse Tavan. Together, they wanted to restore the Provençal language. They also wanted to codify its orthography.
The seven-pointed star is its symbol. Frederic Mistral wrote that it is a tribute to its seven founders. The movement began in Provence. Soon it reached all of Occitania. Occitanian writers joined. These included Michel Camélat, Simin Palay, Albert Arnavielle, and Justin Bessou. Also part of the movement were Jacques and Gabriel Azaïs, Achille Mir, Arsène Vermenouze, Joseph Roux, and José Mange. Brémonde de Tarascon, Batisto Bonnet, and Charles Maurras were also members.
The Félibrige protects and promotes Occitan language and culture. It fights for recognition of cultural diversity. This applies within France and across the wider world. It is one of two organizations represented across Occitania since 1945. The other is the Institut d’Estudis Occitans.
There is a yearly meeting called Santo Estello. It is held in a different town in the Pays d’Oc. The traditional banquet ends with the ritual of the Copa Santa.
Frédéric Mistral was a Nobel Prize winning poet. He wrote in the Provençal language. Most towns have a street, school or square named after him. Mistral predicted the threat posed by modernisation and globalisation. It threatened local diversity, identity, language and tradition. He spent his life fighting against it.
Mistral was born in 1830. His full name was Joseph Étienne Frédéric Mistral. He was born into a well-to-do farming family in Maillane. He also died there in 1914. His house in Maillane has been preserved as a memorial. It is called the Mas du Juge.
In 1854, Mistral founded Lou Felibrige with six other Provençal writers. The aim was to defend regional pride and dying languages. Its symbol was a seven-pointed star. Catalan poets from Spain were also welcomed. One was Victor Balaguer. In gratitude, the Catalans offered the Félibrige a silver goblet. It was called the Coupo Santo or Holy Cup. At the association’s annual banquet in May, a ritual toast is drunk from the Coupo Santo. It celebrates this friendship. The Félibrige movement remains active today.
Mistral’s impact has been enormous. The pastorale is a 19th century nativity play in Provençal. It is still widely performed today. Mistral also persuaded the women of Arles to revive their folk costume.
Mistral cut a dramatic figure. He had a long goatee beard and broad-brimmed hat. He achieved fame early with his epic poem Mirèio. It was published in 1859. It is a tragic romance between a rich young woman and a poor basket-maker.
Today, as you stand here at Lotissement le Felibrige remember its purpose. It stands as a reminder of the enduring power of language and culture.