FEAST OF “BAGUETTES”
Description
Every first of September, Peille celebrates a two-hundred-year-old ritual. This is the yearly “A BAGUETA” festival, better known as the “Festin des Baguettes”, heralding the start of the harvest season.
The lore : In 1357, Peille found itself suddenly deprived of water, the only source having been cut off by a landslide. Life was becoming difficult in the village, as inhabitants were forced to carry their rations of water from distant and remote sites. The Lord of the city, greatly concerned by the situation, summoned a young shepherd called “Gioanin”, to whom were attributed great dowsing skills, and even some sorcery powers.
Gioanin, having previously successfully divined the location of a source, was asked by the Lord to use his powers to deliver the accursed source to the community,
Understanding the solemnity of the moment, Roussetta, the Lord’s daughter, holding an olive branch, walked up to him: “Gioanin, she said, take this twig and divine the source, I promise you… my heart in exchange”. Heartened by this tender proposition, the shepherd quickly made up his mind. Taking the magic twig, he walked among the rocks for a bit, and suddenly stopped. Miracle! This twig shook and twirled, indicating the circulation of underground water. “Dig here, you will find water a few meters down”. The inhabitants set to work immediately. And, sure enough, a few days later, water was struck, and you can sample it today at Place de la République, formerly place Aïga, still fresh and light… The first “fêtes des baguettes” (baguette means stick, or twig) is celebrated on the 8th of September, in honour of the heroic couple, with cries of joy as the bayle hands them the dowsing twig, decorated with ribbons, to announce their coming marriage. Roussetta was true to her word, and the fête des Baguettes was held to celebrate the happy event, the two heroes presiding over the festivities for many years.
The ritual : couples form a circle, called “le rodol”. Inside the circle, four trays are circulated, corresponding to the four first phases of the festivities: a first tray for the twigs, a second one for biscuits, a third tray for white wine, and a fourth tray for offerings.
Finally, the farandole crosses under the bridge, as an apparent representation of birth or of rebirth.
The tradition nowadays : each maiden offers a twig to the young man of her choice.