Estaminet

For Estaminet classification in Medicine, see Distal radioulnar articulation.

An estaminet is—in Picardy, French Flanders, Luxembourg, and Brussels[1]—an establishment that serves various types of drinks, sells tobacco, and offers traditional games. The estaminets are part of the cultural heritage of these regions. In Brussels, a three-hundred-year-old estaminet is still open.[2]

The word estaminets has also been in use in Paris in the 19th century, as Jules Lovy wrote about them on 18 April 1858 in Le Tintamarre.[3]

In modern usage, estaminet refers to taverns, bistrots, inns, and brasseries typical of Nord Département in France that make use of ancient tools and typical rural, or traditional, decorations, and serve dishes and drinks from the region.

Etymology

In 1802, the Académie française defined the estaminet in a very short description: "Assemblée de buveurs et de fumeurs" (An assembly of drinkers and smokers).

The word has a Picard origin and comes from "estamet", which refers to the pillar supporting the roof of a room, and, by extension, the room itself.[4]

The estaminets in the 19th century

At the beginning of the 19th century, in the more elegant cafés, tobacco was forbidden, but smoking was permitted in the estaminets. The word "estaminet" was in common use before World War I and referred to an establishment where one could have a drink and smoke. There could be, at the same place, a grocery or a farriery facility,[5] like nowadays multi-service cafés.

A place to socialize for workers, the estaminet was also the meeting point for local societies, like pigeon-keeping club members or feather-bowling players.[6]

Some singing societies also included in their name the one of the estaminet where they are gathering. For instance, in Flers, there is a society called Les Amis-Réunis de l'estaminet du Pont du Breucq (the friends of Pont du Breucq estaminet). In Lambersart, there is a Société des Rigolos Réunie à l'Estaminet de la Carnoy à Lambersart[7] (Society of amusing people gathered at la Carnoy estaminet in Lambersat). In Lille, there are several societies called Les Amis-Réunis à l'Estaminet du Grand Quinquin, Les Amis-Réunis à l'Estaminet du Réveil-Matin, Les Bons Buveurs de l'Estaminet de l'Alliance. In Roubaix, there are Les Amis-Réunis à l'Estaminet du Bas Rouge à Pile,[8] Les Amis-Réunis Estaminet Bauwens, Les Amis Réunis à l'Estaminet du Poète de Roubaix,[9] Les Amis-Réunis à l'Estaminet tenu par Augustin Roger.[10] In Tourcoing, there is the Société des Amis Réunis, Estaminet du Lion-Blanc, à Tourcoing.[11]

In Lille, on the eve of the First World War, the people were more likely to enjoy their hard lives in the estaminets, where they could relax, meet up with friends, sing patois refrains, and play a variety of games. These games included jeu du beigneau (throwing shuffles into a hole), jeu du bouchon (knocking down corks 9 meters apart), skittles, darts, and strength competitions.

Estaminets during World War I

Egg and chips became popular in Britain during World War I due to a shortage of meat. It was a favourite food of Tommies behind the lines on the Western Front in northern France and Belgium, eaten at estaminets, which also sold cheap wine and beer.[12]

The estaminets revival

Nowadays, the name "estaminet" is given to different taverns, bistrots, or inns that make use of ancient tools as ornaments and typical, rustic, and traditional decorations. Hop is hanging from the ceiling, and old pictures are on the walls. Old bottles and "Vierpots" (ember pots) to light one's pipe are gathered on the fireplace. The menu shows dishes with Flemish names like "Waterzoï" or "Potjevleesch".[13] Above the entry door, a placard is placed, with a depiction of the scrutiny of God, and is a warning to the customers against cursing (in Flemish: Hier vloekt men niet).[14]

Estaminets in culture

Victor Hugo used the word "estaminet," among other Walloon words, in his naturalistic novels set in the north of his country.[15]

"Estaminet" is also the title of a short story by Gerard Walschap.

"The Estaminet" is a poem by Ivor Gurney published in Selected Poems about comradeship between soldiers during World War I.

Estaminet 'In 't Spinnekopke' is one of the recipients of the Bronze Zinneke, an award handed out by the cabinet of the Brussels Region to individuals, personalities, organisations, or companies that perform a role as informal ambassadors of the Brussels Region.

Estaminets in culture
Estaminets in art

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ sosoir.lesoir.be "Trois estaminets qui ont su garder leur âme d'époque à Bruxelles"
  2. ^ The oldest estaminet in Brussels, still active since more 300 years, Antoine Lebrun 19 December 2024 www.lebonbon.be (in French)
  3. ^ Les cafés de Paris, Le Tintamarre, 18 April 1858, p. 5, 2nd column. See the original of the article on Commons.
  4. ^ Jean Dauby, Lexique du bâtiment et de la maison en rouchi , dialecte picard du valenciennois, Études et recherches sur Saint-Amand-les-Eaux et sa région, no 9, 1987, pp. 1-9.
  5. ^ Les estaminets Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Leers website]
  6. ^ Collectif, dir JP Wytteman (1988). Le Nord de la préhistoire à nos jours. Bordessoules. p. 260.
  7. ^ A song by Société des Rigolos Réunie à l'Estaminet de la Carnoy à Lambersart (in French)
  8. ^ La Pile is a neighborough in Roubaix.
  9. ^ Manière d'engager ses amis à souper, a song by the Les Amis Réunis à l'Estaminet du Poète de Roubaix goguette.
  10. ^ Exhibition Chantons... mais en patois ! Archived 11 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine held from the 8 June to 1 July 2010 in Roubaix Media library.
  11. ^ A song by la Société des Amis Réunis, Estaminet du Lion-Blanc, à Tourcoing and Another song, by la Société des Amis Réunis, Estaminet du Lion-Blanc, à Tourcoing
  12. ^ Paul Collinson, Helen Macbeth, ed. (2014). "Alternatives to the ration for British soldiers". Food in Zones of Conflict: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives. Berghahn Books. ISBN 978-1782384045. In fact, the staple, often the only dish on the estaminets' menus was egg and chips, for which the men had an enormous passion
  13. ^ Aude Pidoux, Les estaminets, 17 August 2007.
  14. ^ Pascal Goffaux, Les estaminets, 9 December 2017.
  15. ^ Hugo, Victor (1865). Les Misérables. J. Hetzel et A. Lacroix, Paris, The year 1817, p. 69 : Un estaminet plein de fumée se présenta, ils y entrèrent et le reste de leur conférence se perdit dans l'ombre.

Bibliography

  • In 1886, the publisher Ravet-Anceau established the first inventory of estaminets in his Annuaire du Nord. Since 2005, estaminets from northern France and Belgium are listed in the Guide Ravet-Anceau des estaminets, described as the Bible of estaminets in 2013 (Gilles Guillon, Pôle Nord Editions).
  • Giuseppe Salvaggio, De A à Zinc. 700 mots pour y boire. Précis de sociolexicologie, Strépy-Bracquegnies, Le Livre en papier, 2021, 476 p. ISBN 978-2-9602-5311-5 - Pages 217 to 228 are dedicated to the etymology of the word "estaminet" ISBN 978-2-9602-5310-8).
  • Dominique Lobjois, Jeux d'estaminets de Flandre, préface de Jacques Messiant, Éditions Engelaere, 2016, 176 p. ISBN 978-2-9176-2138-7.
  • Estaminets et cafés. Histoires bruxelloises 2018 BruxellesFabriques = Brusselfabriek.
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