Culture of Guernsey 1951511 223606050 2008-07-04T21:14:22Z Lightbot 7178666 Units/dates/other [[Image:Renoir16.jpg|thumb|300px|right|''Children on the Beach of Guernsey'', 1883, by [[Pierre-Auguste Renoir]]]] The '''culture of Guernsey''' is the culture of the island of [[Guernsey]] which has been shaped by its indigenous [[Norman language]] and traditions as well as [[Culture of France|French]] (especially [[Normandy#Culture|Norman]]) and [[British culture|British]] (especially [[Culture of England|English]]) cultural influences, to which have been added cultural trends from immigrant communities such as the [[Culture of Portugal|Portuguese]]. ==Symbols== The national animals of the island of Guernsey are the [[donkey]] and the [[Guernsey cattle|Guernsey cow]]. The traditional explanation for the donkey (''âne'' in French and Guernésiais) is the steepness of [[St Peter Port]] streets that necessitated beasts of burden for transport (in contrast to the flat terrain of the rival capital of [[Saint Helier]] in [[Jersey]]), although it is also used in reference to Guernsey inhabitants' stubbornness who boast that they are "stubborn as a mule, with a kick like a horse!" The Guernsey cow is a more internationally famous icon of the island. As well as being prized for its rich creamy milk, which is claimed by some to hold health benefits over milk from other breeds[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1268481.stm], Guernsey cattle are increasingly being raised for their beef, which has a distinctive flavour and rich yellow fat. Although the number of individual islanders raising these cattle for private supply has diminished significantly since the 1960s, Guernsey steers can still be occasionally seen grazing on L'Ancresse common. There is also a breed of goat known as the Golden Guernsey, which is distinguished by its golden-coloured coat At the end of [[World War II]], the Golden Guernsey was almost extinct, due to [[Hybrid (biology)|interbreeding]] with other varieties on the island. The resurrection of this breed is largely credited to the work of a single woman, Miss Miriam Milbourne. Although no longer considered in a 'critical' status, the breed remains on the "Watch List" of the [[Rare Breeds Survival Trust]][http://www.rbst.org.uk/watch-list/goats/goldenguernsey.php] Guernsey people are traditionally nicknamed ''donkeys'' or ''ânes'', especially by Jersey people (who in turn are nicknamed ''crapauds'' - toads). Inhabitants of each of the [[parishes of Guernsey]] also have traditional nicknames, although these have generally dropped out of use among the English-speaking population. The [[Guernsey Lily]] ''Nerine sarniensis'' (''Sarnia'' is the traditional name of the island of Guernsey in [[Latin]]) is also used as a symbol of the island. ''[[Sarnia Cherie]]'' is used as the anthem of Guernsey when a distinguishing anthem is required. Liberation Day on [[9 May]] is the occasion of large celebrations every year to mark the end of the German occupation in 1945. ==Gastronomy== Dishes traditional in Guernsey cuisine are the Guernsey ''gâche'', a rich fruit bread, ''gâche mêlaïe'', apple pudding, ''bean jar'', a type of [[cassoulet]] of pork and beans, and [[conger eel|conger]] soup. A local delicacy is the [[ormer]] (''Haliotis tuberculata'') - a variety of abalone harvested from the beach at low spring tides. Other seafood such as [[spider crab]]s, mussels, lobster are popular. In July 2006 smoking in enclosed public places (including pubs and restaurants) was banned, a law put in place to protect workers' right to a healthy working environment. <gallery> Image:Little_chapel,_Guernsey_(1993).jpg|Little Chapel, Les Vauxbelets, Guernsey Image:Little chapel (inside), Guernsey (1993).jpg|Little chapel interior Image:Fountain Bordage signs St Peter Port Guernsey.jpg|Fountain Bordage signs St Peter Port Guernsey Image:Hauteville House Victor Hugo in Guernsey.jpg|Hauteville-House </gallery> ==Language== [[Image:Fête d'la Maïr Guernesy.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Festival of the Sea (in Guernésiais)]] English is the only language spoken by a majority of the population, while [[Guernésiais]], the [[Norman language]] of the island, is currently spoken fluently by 2% of the population (according to 2001 census). However, 14% of the population claim some understanding of the language and it is taught in a few Island schools. Until the early twentieth century French was the only official language. Family and place names reflect this linguistic heritage. The island's loss of the language reflects a significant anglicisation of its culture and mindset, partly brought on by a large number of tax exiles from England. Portuguese is taught in a few schools and is spoken by around 2% of the population. ==Literature== [[Image:Victor Hugo-Exile.jpg|right|thumb|Victor Hugo was in exile in Jersey, and latterly Guernsey]] [[Victor Hugo]] wrote some of his best-known works while in exile in Guernsey, including [[Les Misérables]]. His home in [[St Peter Port]], Hauteville House, is now a museum administered by the city of [[Paris]]. In 1866, he published a novel set in the island, ''Travailleurs de la Mer'' ([[Toilers of the Sea]]), which he dedicated to the island of Guernsey. The best-known novel by a Guernseyman is ''[[The Book of Ebenezer Le Page]],'' by [[Gerald Basil Edwards|GB Edwards]] which, in addition to being a critically-acclaimed work of literature, it also contains a wealth of insights into life in Guernsey during the twentieth century. [[George Métivier]], often considered the island's national poet, wrote in Guernésiais. Other important Guernésiais writers are [[Denys Corbet]], [[Tam Lenfestey]], [[Thomas Henry Mahy|T. H. Mahy]] and [[Marjorie Ozanne]]. ==Sport== {{main|Sport in Guernsey}} Guernsey participates in its own right in the [[Commonwealth Games]]. Guernsey participates in the [[Island Games]], which it hosted in 2003. In sporting events in which Guernsey does not have international representation, when the British [[Home Nations]] are competing separately, islanders that do have high athletic skill may choose to compete for any of the Home Nations - there are, however, restrictions on subsequent transfers to represent another Home Nation. The football player [[Matt Le Tissier]] for example, tried out for the [[Scotland national football team]] but ended up playing for [[England national football team|England]]. The island's traditional colour (e.g. for sporting events) is [[green]]. [[The Corbet Field|The Corbet Football Field]] donated by [[Jurat]] Wilfred Corbet OBE in 1932 has fostered the sport greatly over the years. The annual [[Muratti]] match between the Channel Islands gives an airing to the traditional rivalry between Guernsey and Jersey. *[[Guernsey national football team]] Guernsey has recently been declared an affiliate member by the [[International Cricket Council]] (ICC). ==Media== [[Image:Guernésiais BBC sticker.jpg|thumb|Guernésiais BBC sticker]] Two radio stations, [[BBC Radio Guernsey]] and Island FM, serve Guernsey. Guernsey together with the other [[Channel Islands]] has [[Channel Television]], an ITV regional franchise. A lot of the content of Channel TV is from/based on [[Jersey]]. It produces a daily news programme [[Channel Report]]. From the point of view of television coverage, the [[BBC]] has always treated the islands as an extension of their [[BBC Spotlight|South West]] England region, relaying programmes from [[Plymouth]] to the islands. (The BBC does now broadcast an opt-out of the regional news bulletin, ''[[BBC Spotlight|Spotlight]]'', for the Channel Islands.) This posed a problem to the [[Independent Television Authority]] as, constitutionally, the [[Television Act 1954]] did not apply to the islands, so the ITA's ability to operate there had to be permitted by means of extending the Act to the islands by means of an [[Order-in-Council]]. Due to a technicality that prevented the Channel Islands from receiving colour television, Channel could only broadcast in black and white until 1976. However, Channel TV does not use a Channel Island website - [http://www.channeltv.co.uk/] Due to the proximity to France, French television is fairly easily received as well. The [[Guernsey Evening Press]] is the daily newspaper. ==Music== [[Image:Guernsey folk dance.jpg|thumb|Guernsey folk dance]] The [[Reformation]] brought [[Calvinism]] to the islands and the later strong influence of [[Methodism]] suppressed dancing and secular music. A number of traditional songs and dances have been recorded, and some gentrified dances were collected in the 19th century in Guernsey. "La Bébée" ("the Baby Polka" or "Klatschtanz") is a 19th century novelty dance which also remains popular with costumed [[folklore]] groups in various parts of [[Europe]]. Some traditional folk songs such as ''Jean, Gros Jean'' and ''J'ai perdu ma faumme'' have survived. Groups such as ''La Guaine du Vouêt'' and ''Les Dànsaeurs dé L'Assembllaïe D'Guernésiais'' perform at events such as ''Lé Viaer Marchi''. According to Edith Carey (1903), the traditional ''[[hurdy-gurdy|chifournie]]'' had disappeared from Guernsey by the mid-nineteenth century. [[John Ireland]] settled for a time in Guernsey. Recently, Guernsey has hosted a live music event called Guernsey Live. This music festival has been one of the biggest events in the [[Channel Islands]] and sister festival of [[Jersey Live]].<ref>{{citenews|title=Guernsey Live - Day 1 Review|publisher=bbc.co.uk|date=April 4, 2008|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/guernsey/content/articles/2008/05/04/guernsey_live_2008_day_1_feature.shtml}}</ref><ref>{{citenews|title=Guernsey Live - Day 2 Review|publisher=bbc.co.uk|date=April 5, 2008|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/guernsey/content/articles/2008/05/05/guernsey_live_2008_day_2_feature.shtml}}</ref> ==References== <references/> *''Customs, Ceremonies & Traditions of the Channel Islands'', Lemprière, 1976, ISBN 0709158424 {{Culture of Europe}} [[Category:Culture of Guernsey| ]]