Fête de la Libération

La Place, already starting to fill up as we arrive for La Fête de la Libération

Another weekend, and very, very busy. In our village, as in many other towns and villages, Saturday was Fête de la Libération. This is a day held to commemorate and celebrate the liberation of the region of Languedoc from German occupation. The day is not to be confused with the VE Day, which is on May 8, and is a National Public Holiday. That day is to commemorate the end of WWII and is a very solemn ceremony, with parades and wreath laying to remember those who gave their lives in the wars.

No, although there is a wreath laying ceremony and official marking of this day, this is more a celebration. The event in our village is organised by the Ancients Combatants, the French equivalent of the British Legion, in alliance with other supporting associations.

After a full day of preparation the event starts at 18.30 with the official ceremony in front of the war memorial. The mayor, and leaders of the different groups of Ancient Combatants, parade to the war memorial and stand to attention as military music is played by a small group of musicians. After the wreaths are laid at the foot of the monument, and a minute's silence to remember all who gave their lives during the conflicts, the mood changes, as a rousing rendition of "Le Marseilles" is played. Stirring stuff!

Then, everyone takes their place at the tables and chairs already set out on the main Place of the village. The Place itself is typical of nearly every village in the south of France, although not all have the main Place in front of the Mairie. However, most do have a war memorial, and of course, plenty of Plane trees to shelter from the sun. Saturday at 2.00pm we had temperatures hovering around 39 degrees, so the trees do give some respite.

Then, it's time for the celebrations, which as usual, is an amazing night of good food and wine and the very best of music - an extravaganza of a show.

The meal is provided by the Ancient Combatants with assistance of the local Football Club. They prepared meals to suit all, from paella, to grilled meats and fries. For 10 euros you can have the set meal, delivered on large airline type trays. The meal includes fresh melon, two large sausages, plenty of fries, or paella if you wish - and of course bread and cheese. All this followed by desert, Tarte Normande - typically French.

The wine is from the local cave - of course. It's one of the best wines, and specially suited for hot sunny days and warm evenings, "Les Fleurs de Montblanc, Syrah Rosé.


The show this year is provided by the outstanding Paul Selmer Ochestre. David tells me that Paul Selmer fits with the title of one of his favourite books, a biography of Jack Hulmes, a photographer from his home town. The title is "World Famous Around Here", which he says really does sum up Paul Selmer and his orchestra. They really are fabulous and attract large crowds wherever they play.

The orchestra is a team of 24, composed of singers, dancers and the musicians, who play a wide range of instruments. Most of the team are young people who are attending the music academy in Montpellier, so each year it's a continually changing team - except for the older ones who seem to have been part of the orchestra since it started in the 60's.

On Stage - the Paul Selmer Orchestre

The music is a melange of 40's - Glenn Miller and the Andrew Sisters for example (Rum and Coca Cola?!) and typical music of the era of the Libération, through the 50's, 60's and 70's up to the present day. For example they ochestre and girls did a wonderful sequence with Indian style dancing whilst singing "Jai Ho" (the theme music from Slumdog Millionaire) in the style of the Pussycat Dolls.

This is another opportunity to spend a beautiful evening meeting friends and chatting together, learning the latest news and generally having a good time. Plus of course, plenty of floor space to have a dance to 'til the early morning.

David says it's events like this, enjoying an evening with friends in the open air, with plenty of entertainment and warm ambience, that help make life in the south of France so idyllic.

Footnote: Between our village and the neighbouring village of Valros is a large cross, erected in the vineyards by the side of the Route National, the N9 between Pézenas and Béziers. The cross is in memory of four people, three of them teenagers, who were brutally shot and killed as the German troops evacuated Béziers and fled north.

Their crime? They had been fishing in the nearby River Thongue and as they walked home they saw the German trucks and started to jeer at the convoy. As an act of reprisal German soldiers in some of the trucks fired at the youths. They were all killed.

This act is remembered each year on this day and fresh flowers are laid at the foot of the cross by the local municipality and the families of those killed. The cross bears the names of those killed with the inscription "Cowardly killed by the Germans, August 18 1944".