Festivals & Events

1. Bona annada!

   Happy New Year!

   Usage

   The greeting for the turn of the year

   Grammar Note

   bona is the feminine form agreeing with annada, "year".

2. Quora comença lo festenal?

   When does the festival start?

   Usage

   The basic question about timing; festenal is a large festival

   Grammar Note

   quora is "when"; do not confuse it with quant (how much). Composed.

3. Ont se debana la fèsta?

   Where does the festival take place?

   Usage

   Asks for the location; debanar is the verb for "to take place"

   Grammar Note

   se debana is reflexive, "takes place". fèsta is feminine; mind the accent on è.

4. Pòdi participar a la fèsta?

   May I take part in the festival?

   Usage

   Asks whether visitors may join in dances or processions, not just watch; locals are often glad to explain

   Grammar Note

   pòdi is the 1st person singular of poder. Composed.

5. L'entrada es gratuita?

   Is entry free?

   Usage

   Street festivals are often free, but some concerts or events may charge

   Grammar Note

   gratuita agrees with entrada. Word order stays the same as a statement; rising intonation marks the question. Composed.

6. Qué se manja pendent la fèsta?

   What do people eat during the festival?

   Usage

   Asks about traditional food; stalls and cafés can point you to local dishes

   Grammar Note

   se manja is the reflexive "one eats". Composed.

7. Vòli crompar un sovenir de la fèsta

   I want to buy a souvenir of the festival

   Usage

   For stalls and gift shops; vòli is the usual way to say "I want"

   Grammar Note

   vòli + infinitive. Composed.

8. Quinas son las tradicions d'aquela fèsta?

   What are the traditions of this festival?

   Usage

   Asks about the customs and rules of an event

   Grammar Note

   quinas is the feminine plural, agreeing with tradicions. Composed.

9. lo Carnaval de Limós

   The Limoux Carnival

   Usage

   A carnival that runs for weeks every winter and spring in Limoux, Aude; costumed bands circle the square and townspeople dance along

   Grammar Note

   Limós is the Occitan name of Limoux.

10. l'Estivada de Rodés

    Estivada of Rodez (summer Occitan festival)

    Usage

    A yearly July festival in Rodez of Occitan music, theatre and debate; a good chance to hear the language

    Grammar Note

    The name is tied to summer. Mind the accent in Rodés.

11. la nuèch de la Sant Joan

    Saint John's Eve (midsummer fires)

    Usage

    On the night of 23 June many Occitan towns and villages still light a big fire in the square, with food and dancing around it

    Grammar Note

    nuèch is feminine; the ending is -ch.

12. Calendas

    Calendas (the Christmas season)

    Usage

    The old Occitan word for the Christmas-to-New-Year period; in Provence thirteen desserts are put on the table

    Grammar Note

    The name is used in the plural.

13. los tretze dessèrts

    The thirteen desserts (Provençal Christmas)

    Usage

    Thirteen sweets and fruits set out after the Christmas Eve meal: nougat, dried fruit, nuts and more. The number is always thirteen

    Grammar Note

    tretze is thirteen; dessèrt takes the plural dessèrts.

14. la corsa camarguenca

    The Camargue bull race

    Usage

    A Camargue sport in which young men called razeteurs try to take a rosette from a bull's horns. The bull is not killed. Seen at summer festivals in Provence and Languedoc

    Grammar Note

    camarguenca is the feminine adjective from Camarga.

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