Archive by Author
Common French Words with “Gaulois” Origin, Part 2 Posted by Hichem on Feb 8, 2011
* Caillou: Pebble—Obélix carrying a “caillou” of rather huge proportions: It’s actually called a “menhir”! * * * * Changer: To change * * * * Char: Chariot, or tank—As in “le char Leclerc!“ * * * * Chemin: Path—Think “Sur le chemin de la vie” (“On the Path of Life” by Gérard Lenorman) * * * * Chemise: Shirt—Think “Tomber la chemise”…
The “Gaulois” Legacy in French Part 1 Posted by Hichem on Feb 8, 2011
Long before that the hexagonal land that we know today as France was invaded by foreign German tribes called the Franks, who went as far as changing its original language and name, it was known to its inhabitants as La Gaule. Those native inhabitants, who were of Celtic “souche“(a Gaulish word meaning “stock”, “origin”), were known…
La Tulipe Noire in the French Revolution Posted by Hichem on Feb 6, 2011
What if the world of les vengeurs masqués (masked avengers) were to be thrown into the tumultuous times of la révolution française? L’acteur iconique of the French, Alain Delon, incarnated “La Tulipe Noire.” An 18th century Zorro unleashed in the French Revolution! A decade later, inspired from the Delon movie, the Japanese had to fall for the…
The Godfather of l’Opéra français Part 2 Posted by Hichem on Feb 4, 2011
Molière and Jean de la Fontaine: Two famous victims of the intrigues devised by le Parrain (the Godfather) of French Opera. As such, they join a long list of hommes de lettreswho were -it’s tempting to say- “lulled by Lully” * * * If le cardinal Mazarin were to be regarded as the “Overall Godfather“, the capo…
Jean-Baptiste Lully and l’Opéra français Part 1 Posted by Hichem on Feb 3, 2011
It seems that whenever people around the world think of the term opera, it is l’opéra italien that comes up first in their minds. But, all “chauvinistic” considerations aside (no doubt more suitable for the purpose of rehashing the “intricacies” of, say, some highly “theatrical” match finalde la Coupe du Monde de la FIFA), it is…
The Fable of an Out-foxed Crow Posted by Hichem on Jan 31, 2011
Combien de leçons peut-on tirer de cette fable? (How many lessons can one draw from this fable?) Jean de La Fontaine’s Le corbeau et le renard (The Crow and the Fox) tells the story of a literally -and even “literaturely”- “outfoxed” corbeau (crow), who was duped by the –shall we say- “cheesy lines” of a Master Fox—A…
Tribute to a Celtic Tune: “La tribu de Dana” by Manau Posted by Hichem on Jan 30, 2011
With a tune hailing all the way from the proud shores of Bretagne (Brittany),Celtic group Manau sang this immensely successful chanson (song) in France: “La tribu de Dana” (“The tribe of Dana”)—about thirteen years ago already! “La tribu de Dana” is actually inspired from an old traditional Breton song called “Tri Martolod“, which means “The Three…