Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Vive la Révolution in Santa Cruz

Obviously, short of an excuse for a celebration or two of it's own (if you've read anything of these pages or know the island, then you'll know how far my tongue is in my cheek), Europa Press report that the Tenerife capital has been celebrating the Día Nacional de Francia (National Day of France), what English speakers insist on calling Bastille Day, but which the French, in all their understated elegance, simply refer to as quatorze juillet (14 July).

There probably wasn't any storming of Santa Cruz' own fortifications, the 17th Century Castillo Negro , nor Tenerife II Prison, however, Santa Cruz' mayor, Miguel Zerolo, was to preside over commemorations taking place in council chambers, beginning with municipal band playing the overture from French composer Bizet's opera, Carmen, which, of course, is set in Spain.

After that, Carlos Castro, president of the Alliance Fraçaise / Alianza Francesa (French Alliance) in Santa Cruz, was to speak, before Daniel Alonso, professor of Applied Physics from the University of La Laguna was to give a dissertation on science in France. Eric Landrau, the French Consul in Santa Cruz was also due to be there and the event closed with more music from the municipal band, this time from the opéra comique, Madame Favart, by Jacques Offenbach, before the National Anthems of both France and Spain. Fascinating stuff!

Mais, j'ne comprend pas pourquoi.

Actually, I do understand why and it's all "our fault" (the British) again.

According to this article about these celebrations from last year, it harks back to an historic relationship that was formed between "The Gallic Giant" (France) and the island of Tenerife in 1795, rooted in the fact that French soldiers had helped defend the port of Santa Cruz when it was attacked by the English troops under Nelson's orders. The French suffered two fatalities.

Tenerife also claims tenuous links with France through La Laguna born surrealist, Óscar Domínguez, who moved to Paris when he was 21.

The city of Santa Cruz will be celebrating their victory in that 'armless event from the French Revolutionary Wars: seeing off the English, next week.