Bier-Balk and Corpse-Gate

 One of the traditions during my countdown to Halloween is the reading of  Edith Nesbit's Man-Size in Marble, a ghost story set on Halloween night. Since I first read it in The Oxford Book of English Ghost Stories back in 2006 (I know, a long time ago), I have been fascinated by it. Now, I have at least four books with the story in it, most of them anthologies. And I have also been reading a good deal of critical analysis of the story. Recently, I watched its adaptation on BBC, stupidly retitled Woman of Stone, which was absolutely rubbish (no but seriously, it was bad and they just didn't get it). But I digress. From Man-Size in Marble, I also learned two terms that should be in the vocabulary of every fan of Halloween and Gothic horror: bier-balk and corpse-gate. A bier-balk or bierbalk is a path across a road to a church, sometimes across a field, taken by the funeral march. A corpse-gate, or lychgate (which is a way cooler and sinister sounding term) is the roof under which you put a corpse before the arrival of the clergyman. I often see lychgates near churches here in England. I will see them in a different light from now on, and will try to find bierbalks nearby too. And I hope one day to visit in a sort of Halloween pilgrimage the village of Brenzett, which inspired Edith Nesbit to write this most excellent ghost story and where the real ghostly statues are. Be that as it may, bier-balk and corpse-gate are your words of the day.

Ghosts in the Church

 For today's countdown to Halloween post, I present an anthology of ghost stories. It is a suggestion, not technically a recommendation, because I haven't read it all. That said, as it is for all anthologies, I have already read a few of these ghost stories in elsewhere. So anyway, I started among my many reads Holy Ghosts: Classic Tales of the Ecclesastical Uncanny. Because there's something paticularly eerie about a ghost in an church. In fact, no Halloween season is fully completed without a visit to a spooky old church, or at least a walk by one. A macabre pilgrimage, if you will. Ironically enough, I started reading this book in a train. I did look at the window hoping to see a church, I did not notice any. I will however walk around our little town and when I see a church, I will most definitely look for ghosts.

Monnaie-du-pape

 Nous sommes allés dans une église protestante il y a deux semaines, pour un mariage. Il y avait un bouquet de lunaires annuelles, aussi appelée monnaie-du-pape, à côté d'une prière pour le carême. Je connais la lunaria annua depuis mon primaire, on avait lu un texte sur le sujet en sixième année. Mais je ne me rappelais plus de son vrai nom, seulement de son appelation de monnaie-du-pape, ce qui fait que je l'associe au catholicisme. Alors ça m'a étonné d'en voir dans une église protestante. Je me demande donc bien ce que ça faisait là. Est-ce que c'est vraiment associé au carême et/ou à Pâques, ou c'est juste un adon?

Danse macabre à l'orgue

C'est une tradition sur ce blogue: je partage une vidéo de la Danse Macabre de Camille Saint-Saëns quand l'Halloween approche. Assez récente et jouée à l'orgue. L'orgue étant peut-être l'instrument de musique officieux de l'Halloween, plus que le violon.

The Owlman

 For the people following me for a while, you may know that among all my interests, I have some fascination for cryptids, although very skeptical about the existence of any of them. I don't think any exist, in fact, but love the (ancient or modern) folklore associated to it. I also think they make for great source of inspiration for horror stories. Some time ago, I found out about the Owlman, who was spotted in the seventies in a church of the village of Mawnan, in Cornwall. I know the legent of the Owlman has already been adapted into one horror movie, and the cryptid made his way into other stories, but I think there is more to tell about him. It's just something ghostly and eerie about owls in general, so a mansize, hominid version of the bird is just... Well, really creepy. Especially if he dwells in a village church. I hope he becomes better known and a new character for Halloween. When I go to Cornwall, I hope to visit Mawnan.

Pâques à York

Photo prise par mon père à York, lors de la visite de mes parents à York Minster. Je l'ai retrouvée il y a peu de temps et comme Pâques arrive bientôt, je me suis dit que ce serait une excuse comme une autre pour la partager. La messe (protestante) de Pâques à York Minster est souvent présentée par la BBC.

Citons Prévert

Petite citation de Jacques Prévert apprise récemment. Je devrais vraiment me discipliner et me forcer à le lire, comme du temps de mes études universitaires. Enfin, je digresse, voici la citation: "Dans chaque église, il y a toujours quelque chose qui cloche."

Comme quoi on peut être anticlérical et avoir le sens de l'humour.

Meeting Dracula in Whitby

I took this picture from the Facebook page of English Heritage. Today is an important day for horror fans like myself, especially those who love classic scary stories. As I mentioned in this post, it is the 125th anniversary of the publication of Dracula by Bram Stoker. In in Whitby Abbey, which is featured in the novel, there will be a large gathering of "vampires" today. But if I could be there, I would be hoping to see the real Count Dracula. And don't let this picture fool you into a false sense of security: the vampires in Stoker's novel, while nocturnal, can walk in broad daylight. While I can't be there today, I might make a pilgrimage in Whitby near Halloween. And I will make sure to have a crucifix and garlic on me at all time.

Dracula in Whitby

On the 26th of May, it will be the 125th anniversary of the publication of Dracula by Bram Stoker. It is my favourite horror novel. I learned on t the Facebook page of English Heritage (where I found this picture) that they are organising an event to celebrate: a gathering of vampires (well, people dressed as vampires) in Whitby Abbey. A large portion of the novel is set in Whitby and the abbey is featured. It is a perfect place for a vampire to dwell. I have been wanting to do my vampiric pilgrimage to Whitby for years, I don't think I can get holidays on such short notice and it is not during my son's midterm in any case. Neither would it be a suitable event for a young child, come to think of it. Even if Wolfie has a spooky mind. That said, I might make it a holiday destination one year. Nearer Halloween, perhaps, say the autumn midterm? It would be fitting. I will do my pilgrimage there one day, in any case. It's long overdue.

Une famille de faucons pèlerins

Ceci est une nouvelle locale sur nos compatriotes ailés. Vous vous rappelez peut-être qu'un couple de faucons pèlerins ont élu domicile dans l'une des églises de notre village. Ils ont eu des petits tout récemment. Nous avons donc une famille de faucons pèlerins bien à nous. Enfin, quand je dis à nous, je veux dire à la communauté.

Nommer les faucons pèlerins

J'ai déjà blogué sur le faucon pèlerin qui a élu domicile sur le toit du clocher d'une église locale. En fait, c'est un couple de faucons, et la ville a organisé un concours pour les enfants: leur donner des noms pour Pâques. Je songe participer pour Wolfie. Enfant, j'étais assez doué pour donner des noms aux animaux et il semble avoir reçu ce talent de son père.Cela dit, vous pouvez me donner des suggestions dans les commentaires.

Peregrin falcon at the church

Well, it is not the reason why we live in this town, but it is pretty cool local news anyway: a family of peregrin falcons have nested in one of the churches here. I blogged about it before in French. A photographer took this picture recently and shared it on social media, I thought I would put it here. Impressive.

Le faucon pèlerin à l'église

Petite nouvelle ultra locale, mais que j'ai trouvée fascinante: un faucon pèlerin a été vu et pris en photo en haut d'une des églises de notre petite ville. Voici les images à l'appui. Ça arrivait parfois qu'ils visitaient le jardin familial quand j'étais plus jeune, je suis donc un peu familier avec ce genre d'oiseau. Je ne sais pas s'il a construit son nid sur le toit (ça arrive),ce qui serait approprié, étant donné son nom, ou s'il était simplement en visite. Dans tous les cas, c'est toujours impressionnant de voir un faucon pèlerin.

Saint George (or saint Michael?) and the Dragon

My dad recently sent me this picture. He took it at the Roskilde Cathedral in Denmark, which we visited thirty years ago or so. This is a 800 year old clock, still working. Or at least it was working when we visited it. I barely remembered seeing this ancient clock. You can see on it a depiction of Saint George or Saint Michael killing the Dragon. We are not sure: researches we made gave us contradictory information. My money is on saint George as I think you can see a princess somewhere and he's on horseback. If I am right, then we saw in Denmark a dramatic representation on a clock of the single most famous exploit of the patron saint of Englishmen. I thought about sharing the picture for Saint George's Day, but I could not wait. I want to know if it is Saint George or Saint Michael, for one and thought I would ask it here. I also thought that either way, a 800 year old clock with a dramatic depiction of a fight against a dragon is just too cool not to share as soon as possible. So here it is.

Souvenir de Notre-dame

Je reviens sur la nouvelle d'hier, laquelle est bien entendu très vivace dans nos esprits. Brûlante, sans faire de mauvais jeu de mots. J'y ai songé aujourd'hui et mon souvenir le plus vivace de Notre-Dame de Paris, c'est en fait la lecture du roman du même nom de Victor Hugo. Je l'ai lu au cours de mes études en littérature et j'en ai gardé un excellent souvenir. C'était à un âge ou j'étais encore très porté sur le romantisme. Je ne l'ai lu qu'une fois, mais il y a tant à lire. Il faudra bien le revisiter un jour.

Notre-Dame brûle

Bon, j'ai appris plus tôt ce soir que Notre-Dame de Paris est la proie des flammes et qu'il se peut qu'elle parte en fumée. L'horreur, l'horreur. Je n'ai rien à dire pour le moment que ça. On ne sait pas l'origine de l'incendie au moment où j'écris ces lignes. Et il se peut qu'on ne puisse pas la sauver. Bon, je n'ai plus rien à dire.

We are going to a First Communion

A friend of my wife invited us to the First Communion of her daughter. That will be the first time we set up foot in a Catholic church since the... First Communion of a former work colleague of hers, who had invited us every friends and acquaintances she had. That was four years ago or so. I had then forgotten when was the last time before I had been in a church for a Catholic ceremony. I guess we do not participate in it, we just basically witness it, like everybody else, but as an apostate I always find a bit strange to see my former fellow Catholics. We are a family of godless heathens, my wife has been since childhood, in my case I had to go through a "deconversion" in my late teens that took a while to figure out. Now I am an outspoken atheist, but I will be on my best behavior on that day, or will do my best not to stir any controversy if anyone asks us any questions (they do sometimes).

It is nevertheless a bit strange: her friend knows I was baptized a Catholic, she thought Wolfie might thus become one, we explained (nicely) that we are not religious and have no intention to have him baptized anything. When he grows up, he can choose to follow whichever God he wants, or none. But I am a bit weary of these invitations to churches. My wife goes to a church group for babies and toddlers sometimes, to keep herself and our son busy, and the ladies there keep asking her whether Wolfie is a godly child (whatever that means) and compliment her on choosing such a Biblical name for him. Her friend adores Wolfie and I suspect she secretly hopes that I will change my mind and have our little cub werewolf baptized, and maybe go back to the flock as well, so we will all be in a state of grace. But anyway, it will give us something to do one weekend. And like I said I will be on my best behavior. Although I can never guarantee if Wolfie will be.

Des vitraux

J'ai pris cette photo à York Minster. Je ne suis pas religieux pour deux cennes, en fait je suis athée et anticlérical, comme vous le savez si vous suivez ce blogue. Cela dit, j'aime l'architecture des belles églises (il y en a des belles, il y en a des laides, même parmi les église qui ont de l'histoire). Yprk Minster est en général assez bien, en tout cas elle a de beaux vitraux. C'est un minimum pour une cathédrale, surtout une cathédrale qui a de l'âge. Je blogue sur les églises parce qu'on va sans doute aller en visiter une dans quelques semaines. Je sais, c'est ironique pour une famille d'impies comme la nôtre, mais la fille d'une amie de ma femme va bientôt avoir sa Première communion. Alors il va falloir que je monte patte blanche, éviter de les déclarations controversées et mettre les pieds dans une église bondée de fidèles. Puisque nous parlons de ce sujet, pour ceux qui sont curieux de lire sur mon passé de catholique aveuglé et sur ma propre Première communion, veuillez lire ce billet. Sinon, je me demande de quoi aura l'air l'église. Je vais jeter un oeil aux vitraux.

Galloiserie familière

C'est dimanche, jour du Seigneur, allons-y d'un petit billet comique (enfin il se veut comique) et blasphématoire. J'ai donc pris cette photo à Cardiff. L'enseigne à l'entrée d'une église de je ne sais quelle confession. Avouez qu'elle est bien bonne. Enfin j'ai ri.

The long (un)Holy Week

I took this picture in Brittany and thought it would fit the topic of this blog. And I think that I did not put enough pictures recently. So we are Holy Monday, so we have to go through the Holy Week, which started yesterday, for Easter to be here, and four days, or at least three when you are reading this, for me to be on holidays. And I need this time off badly, like I always do when Easter is near, whatever the date Easter may be. It is a conditioned reflex. The Holy Week feels very long, like a unholy tease really.