Guernsey Culture
From Donkipedia
Guernsey Culture
Contents |
[edit] Influences
[edit] Law & Government
[edit] The States
[edit] The Royal Court
[edit] The Legal System
[edit] Currency
See main article Guernsey Currency
[edit] Emblems and Icons
[edit] Flag
The current flag of Guernsey was first flown on 15 February 1985. It was designed by a committee (the Guernsey Flag Investigation Committee) chaired by the then Deputy Bailiff. It consists of the red on white cross of St George overlain by a gold cross pattée. The gold cross is said to have appeared on the Gonfalon (a banner) of William of Normandy at the battle of Hastings in 1066, and can be seen on the Bayeux tapestry.
Prior to this the plain St George's cross was used. As this could be confused with the same flag as used by England it was felt a distinguishing design should be used.
There is some evidence that there was an earlier design based on the White Ensign, but with the white background replaced by a blue and white chequered motif. This appeared in some contemporary engravings of the unveiling of the Albert statue in 1863, and on some commemorative china of the time. A report of the time referred to it as "Mr. Tupper's blue and white chequered flag" - possibly Ferdinand Brock Tupper. This may have been an unofficial design that gained some recognition for a time.
An ensign also exists for Guernsey vessels. This consists of the Red Ensign with the gold cross of William in the fly.
Each year on Liberation Day a flag is raised on La Grosse Rocque about a mile off Cobo bay on Guernsey's west coast.
The flag can be seen (above that of Jersey) in the current logo of Donkipedia.
More information on (and images of) the various Guernsey flags can be found at the Flags of the World website here
See Also
House Flags of Guernsey Shipping Companies
[edit] Seal
[edit] Guernsey Lily
The Guernsey Lily (Nerine sarniensis) is the National Flower of Guernsey. Indigenous to the Cape 0f Good Hope in South Africa it is believed that it first arrived in Guernsey in the 17th Century. Probably aboard a returning Dutch vessel that either put in to Guernsey or was wrecked on the island. The earliest association with Guernsey is in John Evelyn's Gardener's Chronicle of 1664 where it is called "Narcissus Japonica or Guernsey Lily - that rare flower". Grown from a bulb it produces beautiful dark pink lily-like flowers.
The flower has appeared as a design on Guernsey's first post-decimalization five pence (5p) coin, and before that on the island's eight Double (penny) coin.
A folk tale tells a different story of the origin of the Guernsey Lily. A fairy prince fell in love with a beautiful Guernsey girl (sometimes named as Michele de Garis). He asked her to come away with him, as she could never return to Guernsey from fairyland she asked for a token to remind her family of her. The prince gave her a bulb, which she planted in the sand before leaving with him to his kingdom. One day, her distraught mother, when walking above Vazon bay discovered a beautiful flower , the colour of Michele’s shawl and sprinkled with elfin gold.
[edit] Guernsey Cow
[edit] Donkeys
[edit] Food
[edit] Ormers
The Ormer (Haliotis tuberculata - a mollusc of the abalone family) is a much prized delicacy in Guernsey. So highly prized in fact that their population has declined rapidly since the 19th century when 20,000 could be gathered in a day. Gathering ormers is now strictly controlled by law. and can only occur on an ormering tide between 1 January and the 30 April each year. Only ormers larger than 80mm (3.15 inches) may be taken, and gatherers are not allowed to wear wet suits or even put their heads under water. The punishment is up to six months in prison, or a fine of £5000. The rules led to the first underwater arrest in Britain when a diver was arrested for illegal ormer gathering by a police officer in scuba gear.
The ormer is soaked in fresh water, removed from it's shell, cleaned, and beaten with a steak hammer. It is then dusted with flour ,and fried. They can be eaten in a casserole, and when stocks were plentiful they were also pickled.
Ormer shells make attractive keepsakes as the inside of the shell is covered in mother of pearl.
[edit] Music
[edit] Language
[edit] Guernésiais
Guernésiais, also known as Guernsey French, Dgèrnésiais or "Patois" is the form of the Norman language spoken in Guernsey. It is part of the langues d'oïl language family (so called from the word used for "yes"). Although sometimes regarded as a mutilated form of French recent studies have shown it is in fact very close to the ancient Norman tongue. The language has suffered a decline over recent years, partly as a result of social stigma, but particularly due to the evacuation of many children from the island during World War II.
French was the official language of the Courts and the States until 1929, and was also used extensively in St Peter Port. Guernésiais was mainly used in the country parishes. There were in fact three dialects of the language, that spoken in the Low Parishes , the version spoken in the Câtel and St Andrews, and the one spoken in the High Parishes.
A number of Guernésiais words also feature in Guernsey English, including bunchos (somersaults), and chancre (edible crab). The first dictionary in Guernésiais was written by George Metivier, and published in 1870. This also established the first orthography or spelling system. The most recent dictionary, Dictiounnaire Angllais-Guernésiais, was written by Marie de Garis OBE, and first published in 1967 - the latest revision was in 1982.
The 2001 census showed only 2% of islanders spoke the language fluently, with 70% of those being over 64. However attempts are being made to preserve and extend the language. BBC Radio Guernsey has occasional news in Guernésiais, and includes some lessons on it's website.
The term "Patois" for Guernésiais is now considered technically inaccurate, (as a patois is a form of another language, rather than a language in itself), and as potentially derogatory.
[edit] Literature
[edit] Visual Arts
[edit] Painting
[edit] Photography
[edit] Media
[edit] Newspapers
[edit] Periodicals
[edit] TV & Radio
[edit] Architecture
[edit] Clothing
[edit] Festivals
[edit] Sport
[edit] References
- Lukis, Eric Fellowes; An Outline of the Franco-Norman Dialect of Guernsey, Guernsey, 1985. ISBN 0 9507661 1 9
