''Empègues'' are small images
stencil
Stencilling produces an image or pattern on a surface by applying pigment to a surface through an intermediate object, with designed holes in the intermediate object. The holes allow the pigment to reach only some parts of the surface creatin ...
led on doorways in the
Occitania
Occitania is the historical region in Southern Europe where the Occitan language was historically spoken and where it is sometimes used as a second language. This cultural area roughly encompasses much of the southern third of France (except ...
region of southern
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
.
[ The ''empègue'' symbolizes that the household has contributed to groups of youths gathering funds for celebrations each August.][
The drawings are made by the youths of a village and are said to date from the early part of the twentieth century when the local male youths would be conscripted into the military. ]Conscription
Conscription, also known as the draft in the United States and Israel, is the practice in which the compulsory enlistment in a national service, mainly a military service, is enforced by law. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it conti ...
is no longer practiced in France, but the tradition continues. The images are of traditional subjects which symbolize the local area. In the Petite Camargue
The Camargue (, also , , ; ) is a coastal region in southern France located south of the city of Arles, between the Mediterranean Sea and the two arms of the Rhône river delta. The eastern arm is called the Grand Rhône; the western is the ''P ...
the images frequently involve horses, flamingoes and, of, course, bulls because of the local version of bullfighting ''( Course camarguaise)''.[ In the version of bullfighting licensed in France, the bull is merely decorated with prizes which youths attempt to steal from the long-horned bull. The bull gets to fight another day.
]
Etymology
The word is said to have derived from a word in Occitan Occitan may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Occitania territory in parts of France, Italy, Monaco and Spain.
* Something of, from, or related to the Occitania administrative region of France.
* Occitan language, spoken in parts o ...
, ''empeguar'', which means ''"stick"''.[Beauvoisin 2008]
translation
accessed 15 August 2008 In Spanish the meaning is to mark with pitch.Spanish-English dictionary
tomisino.org, accessed 15 August 2008 Another suggestion is that it comes from ''Pegare'' - the word for paste. The original ''Empègues'' were made from a mixture of soot and paste.[
]
Detail
The images frequently include the abbreviation V.L.J. which stands for ''Vive La Jeunesse'' and the year of creation. In this way, it is possible to date the development of the designs over many years. The samples included here date back over 40 years to 1964 (when conscription was still practiced). Many of these images are from the village of Beauvoisin, but they could have come from any of the villages in Southern France where many of the smallest villages will have their own arena for bullfighting.
Groups are formed which fundraise for the season of celebrations of youth called the ''aubade
An aubade is a morning love song (as opposed to a serenade, intended for performance in the evening), or a song or poem about lovers separating at dawn. It has also been defined as "a song or instrumental composition concerning, accompanying, or ...
'' in August.[ Groups will form to support their teams, to gather funds and to place their ''empègues'' around their area and at their base.][La jeunesse de la Fête Votive 2008 sera sur tous les fronts!]
24 July 2008
Vergèze 24Hactive.com, accessed 15 August 2008
The purpose of the images is to record which houses have contributed to the funds for the festival. This is why the images vary from year to year and why the design is important. The ''Empègue'' is the ''brand'' of the group that collected money from you.[Blasons, plis mimétiques et topologiques]
Christian Besson, LesChantiersBoiteNoire.com, August 2007
translation
accessed 15 August 2008
Image:2000 - IMG 1667 b.jpg, Beauvoisin ""VLJ 2000"" This millennium image shows the bull and the runner who is trying to capture prizes from the bulls horns.
Image:2001 - IMG 1647.JPG , ""VLJ 2001"" The flamingos are wild in southern France.
Image:2006 - IMG 1678 b.jpg, ""VLJ 2006"" A charging bull from 2006.
Image:1996 - IMG 1650.JPG, Beauvoisin ""VLJ 1996""
Image:1989_-_IMG_1670_b.jpg, Beauvoisin ""VLJ 1989""
Image:1971 - IMG 1658.JPG , Beauvoisin ""VLJ 1971""
Image:1978 vignette Aubades.jpg, ""VLJ 1978"" 1978 was another flamingo
Image:1964 - IMG 1676.JPG , Beauvoisin ""VLJ 1964""
See also
* Fête votive
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Empegue
French youth culture
Culture of France
Graffiti in France