Jersey

The Bailiwick of Jersey (Jèrriais: Jèrri) is a Crown dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, it also includes the uninhabited islands of Minquiers and Ecréhous. Along with the Bailiwick of Guernsey it forms the grouping known as the Channel Islands. The defence of all these islands is the responsibility of the United Kingdom. However, Jersey is not part of the UK, but is rather a separate possession of the Crown, comparable to the Isle of Man. It is not a part of the European Union either.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Jersey

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jèrriais, the island's Norman language, is spoken by a minority of the population, although it was the majority language in the 19th century. Though there are efforts to revive the language in schools, it is still spoken mostly by older people (most commonly in the country parishes, although the capital has the highest number of declared Jèrriais speakers). The dialect of Jèrriais spoken in St. Ouen is often considered somewhat different to that of the rest of the island. Many place names are in Jèrriais, and French and English place names are also to be found. Anglicisation of the toponymy increased apace with the migration of English people into the island.

Related Topics:
Jèrriais - Norman language - 19th century - Toponymy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some Neolithic carvings are the earliest works of artistic character to be found in Jersey. Only fragmentary wall-paintings remain from the rich mediaeval artistic heritage, after the wholesale iconoclasm of the Calvinist reformation of the 16th century.

Related Topics:
Neolithic - Iconoclasm - Calvinist - 16th century

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Printing only arrived in Jersey in the 1780s, but the Island supported a multitude of regular publications in French (and Jèrriais) and English throughout the 19th century, in which poetry, most usually topical and satirical, flourished. See Jèrriais literature.

Related Topics:
Printing - 1780s - Jèrriais literature

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

John Everett Millais, Elinor Glyn and Wace are among Jersey's artistic figures. Lillie Langtry, the Jersey Lily, is the Island's most widely recognised cultural icon. The famous French writer, Victor Hugo, lived in exile in Jersey 1852-1855.

Related Topics:
John Everett Millais - Elinor Glyn - Wace - Lillie Langtry - Victor Hugo - 1852 - 1855

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Island is particularly famous for the Battle of Flowers, a carnival held annually since 1902.

Related Topics:
Battle of Flowers - 1902

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Island's patron saint is Saint Helier.

Related Topics:
Patron saint - Helier

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Food and drink

Seafood has traditionally been important to the cuisine of Jersey: mussels (called moules locally), oysters, lobster and crabs — especially spider crabs — ormers, and conger.

Related Topics:
Mussel - Oyster - Lobster - Crab - Spider crab - Ormers - Conger

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jersey milk being very rich, cream and butter have played a large part in insular cooking. (See Channel Island milk) However there is no indigenous tradition of cheesemaking, contrary to the custom of mainland Normandy, but some cheese is produced commercially. Jersey fudge, mostly imported and made with milk from overseas Jersey cattle herds, is a popular food product with tourists.

Related Topics:
Milk - Cream - Butter - Channel Island milk - Fudge

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jersey Royal potatoes are the local variety of new potato, and the island is famous for its early crop of small potatoes from the south-facing côtils (steeply-sloping fields). They are eaten in any variety of ways, often simply boiled and served with butter.

Related Topics:
Jersey Royal potatoes - New potato

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Apples historically were an important crop. Bourdélots are apple dumplings, but the most typical speciality is black butter (lé nièr beurre), a dark spicy spread prepared from apples, cider and spices.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Among other traditional dishes are cabbage loaf, Jersey wonders (les mèrvelles), fliottes, bean crock (les pais au fou), nettle (ortchie) soup, vraic buns.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cider used to be an important export. After decline and near-disappearance in the late 20th century, apple production is being increased and promoted. Apple brandy is also produced. Some wine is produced.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~