Sud de France 4.0: St.Martin’s Dead and Gone Left Me Here to Sing This Song.

Some St.Martin's Day Singers

It is one in the afternoon and I’m already two glasses of wine over my limit and to make things worse, I am being followed home by a band of crazy musicians.  Today the village is celebrating Armistice Day soberly and it's patron saint’s day, --St. Martin--with a lot of local wine. 

So after a brief ceremony at the cemetery everyone gathers at the Mayor’s office for wine and, well, more wine. Mayor George is a charming man who keeps refilling my wine glass as he tells stories about the village. 

After several stories and a lot of wine I feel the need to excuse myself. This provides a lot of laughs especially from members of for the ceremonial band. It a 'fanfare' and calls itself “100 Grams a Head” (100 G de Tete) which should give you an idea of their musical tastes. They decide that in my condition they should escort me  to my front door, about 100 or so yards away. They also get me to promise to join them later at the bar at five for more music and some beer and well more wine.

100 G de Tete

Now a fanfare is made up of amateur musicians who get together to play music and perform at local events. It’s a brass band that typically consists of a tuba, trumpet, trombone, drums and tambourine and they play whatever they like. Today our own Puimisson fanfare starts their day with a rousing and surprisingly on key rendition of that old French? favorite “Cieto Lindo” and follows it up with a tolerable “Saints Go Marching In.” Take a listen for yourself.

While I headed straight home the fanfare took off to continue to perform around the village. Going door to door, they will play a tune or two for a few coins and for, you guessed it, a glass of wine. 
Beside the fanfare, the day was celebrated with rides for the kids and a little amusement area--set up next to but touching at any point the boules field.

For the older folks there were activities like a "Loto Nite" and an Oldies Dance.

For some reason Mayor George had closed the village's large parking area at the Place de la Mairie, for ten days around St. Martin's day. An annoyance for everyone, especially since you’d think you’d want more parking not less for a village event.

Like so many other things French, this is one of those unknowable mysteries that one just has to learn to accept.

Puimisson, St.Martin's Day 11.11.2010