Guernsey Language Commission

A few photos of La Fête Normande which took place in Jersey over the weekend 😊

Tchiques photaos d'la Fête Normande qui fut tinse en Jerri chu droïn somedi et dêmauche 😊

OY-OUS! I sra bétaôt l'temps pour La Fête Normande (acc. La Fête ès Rouaisaons). A s'adaonra en Jerri chutte feis, pens-ous y allaï?

ATTENTION! It'll soon be La Fête Normande (aka Rogation Celebration). It is taking place in Jersey, are you going?

La Fête Nouormande returns to Jersey: stories, poetry, music and dance

For the first time since 2017, the annual celebration of Norman language returns to Jersey on the weekend of 13th-14th June 2026.

La Fête Nouormande, also known as La Fête des Rouaisouns, brings together speakers and enthusiasts of Jèrriais, Guernésiais and mainland varieties of Norman language in a programme of performances, exchanges and activities. The public are invited to attend many of the free events during the weekend, and even try out some traditional dancing.

The festival is an opportunity for speakers of many varieties of Norman with their particular local accents and vocabulary to share the wealth of literature in Norman across the centuries, from the Middle Ages to modernity, as well as to enjoy song from traditional to more contemporary.

A booklet containing texts of stories, poems and songs is provided to help those unfamiliar with the range of accents to follow along with the performances (and perhaps even join in with some of the songs).

Saturday 13th June

9.30-11.30am
A programme of dance, music, and texts in the Assembly Room at Saint Helier Town Hall (free entry)

From 11.30am
A procession of performers and participants across the Town centre, starting from the Town Hall, with dancing al fresco along the way.

7.30pm
An evening of performances, including a musical set from Jèrriais band Mêli-Mêlo. In the Assembly Room at Saint Helier Town Hall (free entry)

Sunday 14th June

9.30am

A guided historical and literary tour in Jèrriais of central Saint Helier with performances, led by Geraint Jennings

11.15am

A religious service in Jèrriais. St Paul's Centre. Led by Brian Vibert.

(Organised by Le Congrès des Parlers Normands et Jèrriais)

Denys Corbet - Le Draïn Rimeux - Le Touar de Guernesy

Treisième Chànt - Third Canto

To mark the Bicentenary of Denys' Birthday, today we walked some of his TOUAR D’LA FOUARÊT . We took up the TOUAR from Le Chêne (Le Quêne) ...

Continuon ... Ha! nou v’là dans l’Bourg,
Qu’est des vrais bourdons la contrâïe.
Ichìn, jadis, d’nos pions la j’nâïe
Trigalait, un caoup en treis àns,
Et v’nait y jouaïr ses biaux dindàns;

Let’s continue ... Ha! there we are in Le Bourg,
Which is true bumblebees' (Forest folk) territory.
Cavorting, once every three years,
Here, in the past, our footmen kin
Came here to play (strut) about;

MEN NIC - MY NEST

J’ai d’vànt ma f’nêtre, et dret en d’sous,
L’Bigard, les cànprots, l’Fond-du-Va’.
De niet ll’a des Roc-Dôvres l’faeu,
Qui saute, à moments, hors des iaux;

I've before my window, & right below,
Le Bigard, les Camprots, le Fond-du-Val.
At night there's the Roches Douvres light,
That leapts, at times, out of the waters;

Treis houras pour Guernesy! Three cheers for Guernsey!

Merci bian Linda O'Leary pour les pictures 🙏