Fiona Alderman: First of May Salignac

Home » Fiona Alderman blogging from The Salignac Foundation France » Fiona Alderman: First of May Salignac

Fiona Alderman: First of May Salignac

The first of May – Sitting in the cool Cafe de la Place in the baking heat of 40% and it’s already climbing. Another heat wave in France and this is even a bit early too. It’s tough for workers in shops and businesses.

Back to May

The planting of the May tree on the Square took place on the 1st and was well attended.

This was also to honour the new Mayor, who made a very good speech of acceptance for her new role in the village. It was fun and I remembered the last time when Barry took photos of the May, I think nearly 20 years ago. Frightening how the time passes so quickly?

Also called La Fete du Muguet, dating back to Renaissance times, and where bouquets are given to loved ones to bring luck. These pretty lily of the valley flowers have sweet bell shaped forms but unfortunately are dangerous ie toxic to cats. So I can’t have them !

It is also an important date for workers. La Fete du Travail which is a National holiday and often marks trade union unrest and other political issues. There are Celtic traditions, a Gaelic May Day, and a festival of Beltrane, when the Celts changed from the dark to the light season.

This year I watched the ceremony from the comfort of the Cafe, which is just across the road. As always in France, nothing starts on time. Due to begin at 4 pm, the tree hadn’t even arrived !

We waited, we chatted to friends, and at 4 45 the large truck and a huge crane rolled up with the equally huge tree A pine one that has only the top leaves showing A very thin trunk that was maneuvered with some difficulty aloft into the centre of the huge oak tree. Situated by the Mairie and bit by bit with a lot of shouting true French style, it rose high into the sky.

The first attempt wasn’t good. It was squint. Down it came, and then with a lot of cheering, it proudly rose again. This time there was success. It is decorated with the tricolor, the flag of France and ribbons fluttering in the breeze.

We were then delighted to be invited by the Mayor and the Council to partake of some refreshments. Outside her house, under a marquee, it was lovely. Her house is down the road from the Mayor’s and close to her work ! Nice afternoon ps Barry would have laughed at the squint tree.

Claude Chabrol

Fabiàn Cevallos, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

This French film Director lead the way during the Nouvelle Vague/New Wave cinema, in the 50’s in France. As a young child his passion for film manifested itself by running a film club from a barn in the French countryside. He did this from the age of 12 to 14 yrs old.He was born in Paris but never considered himself a Parisian, preferring the country and the way of life.

He was in the Army and later worked as a film projectionist, steadily working for his goal of making films. The debut was in 1958 and his film Le Beau Serge inspired by Hitchcock and his film in 1943 Shadow of a Doubt.

Many films would follow La Femme Infidele, Le Boucher, Les Biches all featuring his then wife Stephan Audran. He cast the wonderful Isabelle Huppert in the lead of Violette Noziere and he became noted for his thrillers and detective stories often with a bizarre twist to them.

He even interviewed Alfred Hitchcock with his co worker/friend Truffaut, on the set of To Catch a Thief. Apparently, the two Frenchmen were so starstruck by Hitchcock, that they fell into a water tank. Years later, when they themselves were famous Directors, “Hitch” said he always thought of them when he saw ice cubes in a glass of whisky. I hope that was true.

Et le chabrol

chabrol

Yes “faire le chabrol” is a lovely expression

Originating from here in Le Perigord.

I shall explain. A little local red wine is poured into the bowl of soup at the end of eating. Taking the bowl in two hands the aromatic mixture is drained .

Lovely !

It originates from the XIX th Century and even women and children could drink it. Why Chabrol ? Not sure but maybe from the word chevre ie goat. When the man with a whiskery mustache drinks and leaves little strands of the mixture, looking like the goat’s whiskers.

Fifi’s stories from rural France

June 2026