Culture of Guernsey

Children on the Beach of Guernsey,1883, byPierre-Auguste Renoir

Theculture of Guernseyin the Bailiwick ofGuernseyis a culture which has been shaped by its indigenousNorman languageand traditions as well asFrench(especiallyNorman) andBritish(especiallyEnglish) cultural influences. Cultural trends from immigrant communities such as thePortuguesehave also been added.

Symbols

The national animals of the island of Guernsey are thedonkeyand theGuernsey cow.The traditional explanation for the donkey (ânein French and Guernésiais) is the steepness ofSt Peter Portstreets that necessitated beasts of burden for transport (in contrast to the flat terrain of the rival capital ofSaint HelierinJersey), although it is also used in reference to Guernsey inhabitants' stubbornness who boast that they are "stubborn as a mule, with a kick like a horse!"

The Guernsey cow is a more internationally famous icon of the island. As well as being prized for its rich creamy milk, which is claimed by some to hold health benefits over milk from other breeds,Guernsey cattle are increasingly being raised for their beef, which has a distinctive flavour and rich yellow fat. Although the number of individual islanders raising these cattle for private supply has diminished significantly since the 1960s, Guernsey steers can still be occasionally seen grazing on L'Ancresse common.

There is also a breed of goat known as the Golden Guernsey, which is distinguished by its golden-coloured coat At the end ofWorld War II,the Golden Guernsey was almost extinct, due tointerbreedingwith other varieties on the island. The resurrection of this breed is largely credited to the work of a single woman, Miss Miriam Milbourne. Although no longer considered in a 'critical' status, the breed remains on the "Watch List" of theRare Breeds Survival Trust.

Guernsey people are traditionally nicknameddonkeysorânes,especially by Jersey people (who in turn are nicknamedcrapauds- toads). Inhabitants of each of theparishes of Guernseyalso have traditional nicknames, although these have generally dropped out of use among the English-speaking population.

The so-calledGuernsey lily,Nerine sarniensis(Sarniais the traditional name of the island of Guernsey inLatin), is also used as a symbol of the island.

"Sarnia Cherie"is used as the anthem of Guernsey when a distinguishing anthem is required.

Liberation Dayon 9 May is the occasion of large celebrations every year to mark the end of the German occupation in 1945.

Gastronomy

Dishes traditional in Guernsey cuisine are the Guernseygâche,a rich fruit bread;gâche mêlaïe,apple pudding;"bean jar",a type ofcassouletof pork and beans; andcongersoup.

A local delicacy is theormer(Haliotis tuberculata), à ce variety of abalone harvested from the beach at low spring tides. Other seafood such asspider crabs,mussels, and lobster are popular.

Language

Festival of the Sea (in Guernésiais)

English is the only language spoken by a majority of the population, whileGuernésiais,the Norman language of the island, is currently spoken fluently by 2% of the population (according to 2001 census). However, 14% of the population claim some understanding of the language and it is taught in a few Island schools. Until the early twentieth century French was the only official language. Family and place names reflect this linguistic heritage such as the word "hougue" from the Norse meaning hill and "vraic" being a type of seaweed.The island's loss of the language reflects a significant anglicisation of its culture and mindset, partly brought on by a large number oftax exilesfrom England. Portuguese is taught in a few schools and is spoken by around 2% of the population.

Literature

Victor Hugo was in exile in Jersey, and latterly Guernsey

Victor Hugowrote some of his best-known works while in exile in Guernsey, includingLes Misérables.His home in St Peter Port, Hauteville House, is now a museum administered by the city ofParis.In 1866, he published a novel set in the island,Travailleurs de la Mer(Toilers of the Sea), which he dedicated to the island of Guernsey.

The best-known novel by a Guernseyman isThe Book of Ebenezer Le Page,byGB Edwardswhich, in addition to being a critically acclaimed work of literature, contained insights into life in Guernsey during the twentieth century.

George Métivier,often considered the island's national poet, wrote in Guernésiais. Other important Guernésiais writers areDenys Corbet,Tam Lenfestey,T. H. MahyandMarjorie Ozanne.

Local measurements

• Land area
  • In Guernsey is a vergée (Guernésiais: vergie) is 17,640 square feet (1,639 m²). It is 40 (square) Guernsey perches.
  • A Guernsey perch (also spelt perque) is 21 feet by 21 feet.
• Money
  • Between 1830 and 1956, Guernsey's four coin denominations, 1, 2, 4 and 8 doubles. The double was worth 1/80 of aFrench franc.8 double was a Guernsey penny.
  • 12 Guernsey Pennies made a Guernsey shilling (not the same as an English shilling)
  • 20 Guernsey Shillings made aGuernsey Pound(not the same as an English pound)
  • In 1848, an ordinance was passed that thepound sterlingshould be legal tender at a value of Guernsey £1 1s 3d (2040 doubles).
  • In 1870, British coins were made legal tender, with the British shilling circulating at 12½ Guernsey pence.
  • In 1914, new banknotes appeared, some of which carried denominations in Guernsey shillings and francs.
  • After 1921 it was decided to adopt 8 doubles=1 penny, 1 penny being the same as an Englishpenny.
• Weights
  • The Guernsey Pound was 2 ounces heavier than an English Pound

Media

Guernésiais BBC sticker

Two radio stations,BBC GuernseyandIsland FM,serve Guernsey.

Guernsey together with the otherChannel IslandshasITV Channel Television,anITVregional franchise. A lot of the content of ITV Channel TV is from/based on Jersey. It produces a daily news programmeITV News Channel TV.From the point of view of television coverage, theBBChas always treated the islands as an extension of theirSouth WestEngland region, relaying programmes fromPlymouthto the islands. (The BBC does now broadcast an opt-out of the regional news bulletin,Spotlight,for the Channel Islands.) This posed a problem to theIndependent Television Authorityas, constitutionally, theTelevision Act 1954did not apply to the islands, so the ITA's ability to operate there had to be permitted by means of extending the Act to the islands by means of anOrder in Council.Due to a technicality that prevented the Channel Islands from receiving colour television, Channel could only broadcast in black and white until 1976. Due to the proximity to France, French television is fairly easily received as well.

TheGuernsey Press and Staris the daily newspaper.

Music

Guernsey folk dance

TheReformationbroughtCalvinismto the islands and the later strong influence ofMethodismsuppressed dancing and secular music. A number of traditional songs and dances have been recorded, and some gentrified dances were collected in the 19th century in Guernsey. "La Bébée" ( "the Baby Polka" or "Klatschtanz" ) is a 19th-century novelty dance which also remains popular with costumedfolkloregroups in various parts ofEurope.Some traditional folk songs such asJean, Gros JeanandJ'ai perdu ma faummehave survived. Groups such asLa Guaine du VouêtandLes Dànsaeurs dé L'Assembllaïe D'Guernésiaisperform at events such asLé Viaer Marchi.

According to Edith Carey (1903), the traditionalchifourniehad disappeared from Guernsey by the mid-nineteenth century.

John Irelandsettled for a time in Guernsey.

Recently, Guernsey has hosted a live music event called Guernsey Live. This music festival has been one of the biggest events in the Channel Islands and sister festival ofJersey Live.

The Music Service in Guernsey is renowned for its high quality of teaching and the effects of this can be seen in the standard of performance of many young people in the island.

Sport

Main article:Sport in Guernsey

Guernsey participates in its own right in theCommonwealth Games.

Guernsey participates in theIsland Games,which it hosted in 2003 and 2023. In sporting events in which Guernsey does not have international representation, when the BritishHome Nationsare competing separately, islanders that do have high athletic skill may choose to compete for any of the Home Nations - there are, however, restrictions on subsequent transfers to represent another Home Nation. The football playerMatt Le Tissierfor example, tried out for theScotland national football teambut ended up playing forEngland.

The island's traditional colour (e.g. for sporting events) isgreen.The Corbet Football Fielddonated byJuratWilfred Corbet OBE in 1932 has fostered the sport greatly over the years. The annualMurattimatch, inaugurated in 1905, between the Channel Islands gives an airing to the traditional rivalry between theGuernsey national football teamand Jersey. Similarly theSiam Cuphas been fought over by Rugby teams since 1920.

BothGuernsey F.C.andGuernsey RFCcompete in England leagues. Women's rugby and football also compete in English leagues.

TheGuernsey Cricket Boardis an affiliate member by theInternational Cricket Council(ICC). and theGuernsey cricket teamcompetes in world cricket.

Gallery

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  Little Chapel,Les Vauxbelets, Guernsey
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  Little chapel interior
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  Fountain Bordage signs St Peter Port Guernsey
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  Hauteville-House

Further reading

• Customs, Ceremonies & Traditions of the Channel Islands,Lemprière, 1976,ISBN0-7091-5842-4