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May 20, 2013, 2:02pm

Any Port in a Storm :: Compass Points :: Europe :: Paris :: Fête de l'Humanité

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Topic: Fête de l'Humanité (Read 841 times)

kerouac2
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Fête de l'Humanité
« Thread Started on Sept 17, 2012, 8:35am »

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The "Fête de l'Huma" is a French instutition that extends far beyond its origin as the annual Communist festival in the Paris suburbs. The newspaper l'Humanité was founded by Jean Jaurès as a Socialist newspaper in 1904, but it became a Communist newspaper in 1920 as France emerged from WW1 and was the official organ of the French Communist party from 1920 to 1994.

During those years, the "news" it published was considered a farce by most of the French and even a lot of the Communists. For example, in August 1939 it headlined "The pact of non-agression between the Soviet Union and Germany ensures peace in Europe" -- or in 1956, after the Soviet army crushed the Hungarian uprising "Budapest smiles again."

As you know, the world has moved on over the past 25 years, and it is sometimes hard to believe that such a newspaper can still exist. It had a circulation of 400,000 in 1945 and went as low as 46,000 in 2002. Currently, circulation hovers around 50,000.

The Fête de l'Humanité is held every year to help to finance the newspaper, but it has become many things to many people -- an affordable music festival, a place to buy handicrafts from around the world, a huge food festival and yes, a place for Communists to get together and not feel so lonely. It is held the second weekend of September with a hope for good weather, and this year they were lucky. 650,000 people attended, even though it was in competition with the European Heritage days and the Techno Parade in Paris.

People come from all over France and parts of Europe. It has its own campground and a parking lot for hundreds of buses. The Paris transit authorities run non stop shuttle buses from the metro and RER since the site is out next to the old Le Bourget airport.

Performing at least once at the Fête de l'Humanité has become an absolute must for all of the top stars in France, including singers who are known to be quite right wing politically -- like Johnny Hallyday or Mireille Mathieu, who have both headlined a number of times, but also in years past Jacques Brel, Pink Floyd, The Who, Joan Baez, Johnny Clegg, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Nina Hagen, Ray Charles, Midnight Oil, Césaria Evora, Manu Chao, Youssou N'Dour, just to name some of the international stars.

In other words, the Fête de l'Huma is quite an event. Nevertheless, this was just my third visit there in spite of all the years I have lived in Paris.

Even with the shuttle buses, there is a certain distance to walk to the entrance.

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It has become so totally rare not to go through metal detectors, have a bag searched and/or be frisked that it was a real pleasure to be able to just walk in after having the ticket scanned. It quickly became evident that a lot of the young people appreciate this even more, because they were heavily equipped with whisky and vodka bottles to, er, enhance their pleasure during the concerts (but probably not the political debates).

There are directional poles to assist orientation if you don't have a map.

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The site is really pretty huge.

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One's first impression is of an amateur but joyous mess, which is what a lot of it is.

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Each département, each region, each suburban town has its own stand -- and bar.

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« Last Edit: Sept 17, 2012, 8:39am by kerouac2 »

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #1 on Sept 17, 2012, 8:53am »

The regional stands go on forever.

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While most of these stands have little to interest outsiders other than cheap beer, wine, chips and sausages, I'm sure that the people from each of these places take great pleasure in seeing each other, discussing local affairs and the coming revolution. Even in these areas, I never got bored because it was fun to watch all of the people.

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Here is one of the various entertainment stages at last.

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Some stands are more ambitious. Les Landes is very famous for its festivals and characteristic white outfits with red sashes and scarves.

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« Last Edit: Sept 17, 2012, 11:07am by kerouac2 »

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auntieannie
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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #2 on Sept 17, 2012, 9:03am »

Oysters?! What does an oyster bar do in the middle of sausages and chips? Does not sound like communist fare that!

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #3 on Sept 17, 2012, 9:04am »

Some of these restaurants are really huge.

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This singer was really tormented.

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« Last Edit: Sept 17, 2012, 9:07am by kerouac2 »

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #4 on Sept 17, 2012, 9:20am »

All of the lanes of the fête have names that one doesn't always find in the real world.

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Some people actually listen to debates!

Capitalistic pursuits are nevertheless authorised.

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« Last Edit: Sept 17, 2012, 10:10am by kerouac2 »

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auntieannie
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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #5 on Sept 17, 2012, 11:11am »

looks like the ambiance was quite good/happy (apart from the tormented singer!

)
What are these glass pipes he's selling... they look like drug paraphernalia to me!

Did you enjoy your day out?

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #6 on Sept 17, 2012, 11:27am »

This stand wasn't purely commercial, and I really liked the things they sold.

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Yes, I returned later and bought a few items.

This was the edge of the international zone, my favourite. It has changed enormously over the years, because the USSR used to have the largest stand, and all of the countries of eastern Europe were represented. Later, it was China that had the largest stand, but even their stand this year was not very impressive. Cuba used to have a big restaurant serving grilled lobsters at unbeatable prices but no longer...

This year the most dynamic presences were the Arab communist parties fighting the rise of Islam, the African communist parties fighting corruption, and the Latin American communist parties, simply because it is a way of life.

The Iraqi communists were doing great business with their falafel and kebabs.

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« Last Edit: Sept 17, 2012, 11:32am by kerouac2 »

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #7 on Sept 17, 2012, 11:35am »

Sept 17, 2012, 9:03am, auntieannie wrote:

Oysters?! What does an oyster bar do in the middle of sausages and chips? Does not sound like communist fare that!

Oysters used to be food for poor people living along the seaside.

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What are these glass pipes he's selling... they look like drug paraphernalia to me!

I'm sure those are just for tobacco or perhaps dried mint leaves.

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #8 on Sept 17, 2012, 11:44am »

The noodles and meat await the Vietnamese broth to become soup.

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« Last Edit: Sept 17, 2012, 11:48am by kerouac2 »

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #9 on Sept 17, 2012, 1:17pm »

More food! Indonesian, African, Kurd.... and more.

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These items were dripping with honey and covered with bees.

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Portugal = grilled sardines. That's obligatory.

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Time to get a slightly better idea of what this was like.

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kerouac2
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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #10 on Sept 17, 2012, 1:27pm »

There were Bolivian performers.

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #11 on Sept 17, 2012, 1:39pm »

Paris is a well-known hotbed of communists -- in every arrondissement!

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So, what's on the main stage now? I won't be staying around for Patti Smith tonight.

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A lot of people needed to stop here.

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Oh, it's Peter Doherty. He's all right, I guess.

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I guess there are quite a few people here.

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Here, even the white wine is red.

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ssander
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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #12 on Sept 17, 2012, 3:23pm »

K...

This was amazing! Twice we've timed our trips to Paris to see the Belleville arts festival. It looks like next trip, we might have to schedule it to go to this one.

Thanks so much for a great photo-essay.

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #13 on Sept 17, 2012, 4:00pm »

It does look like a great day was had by all (hopefully!)

Long live la fete de l'huma!

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #14 on Sept 17, 2012, 4:36pm »

Let me see -- I still have a few more bits and pieces to report.

more music...

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more food...

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fun...

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #15 on Sept 17, 2012, 5:28pm »

keep your priorities straight!

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This was strange to see there.

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The communist run Val de Marne département is proud to have given a laptop to every junior high student.

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All you can eat seafood, anyone?

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time to take a rest

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a peaceful end to the day...

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« Last Edit: Sept 18, 2012, 3:29am by kerouac2 »

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #16 on Sept 17, 2012, 6:24pm »

Perhaps it should be pointed out that not all the political groups and associations you've shown are orthodox Communist ones - with the decline in the PCF and similar parties they have had no choice but to be more open to differences and debates.

Some of the food is making me very hungry. Indeed, in many places oysters, crab and lobsters were foods of the poor. Pupils at schools in Gaspésie (eastern Québec) Newfoundland and coastal towns throughout the Maritimes were often ashamed of their lobster sandwiches - the richer kids ate ... bologna.

Lobster prices were very low here this year, making it difficult for fishermen.

Les Amis de la Commune is a very old French working-class association, much older than the French CP: http://commune1871.org/ They are holding a fête very soon.

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #17 on Sept 17, 2012, 8:25pm »

Sept 17, 2012, 6:24pm, lagatta wrote:

In any case, there is no hammer & sickle on the poster for the fête but you can see FNAC, Heineken and Radio France. These are hardly associated with Communist causes, unlike the omnipresent Ricard, which has been a financial supporter for decades.

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #18 on Sept 17, 2012, 10:35pm »

What is the cost of a ticket?

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #19 on Sept 17, 2012, 10:38pm »

It costs 20€ for a ticket that is valid 3 days.

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #20 on Sept 17, 2012, 10:41pm »

It does look like a lot of fun, although it might take more than Pete Doherty to draw me there. I bet a lot of the unknown acts were probably a lot better than he was. I would have spent all my money at the food stands eatin' me some commie food.

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #21 on Sept 17, 2012, 11:22pm »

I see I am not the only one salivating at the food stall pictures.

Had to pry my eyes away and some other details came up... the series of banners, the .. are they basque on their echasses? those who obviously caught you taking a picture of them. Do they talk to you/stop in general or is it only a split second emotion I can read in their eyes? etc...etc... Thanks for showing us around!

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #22 on Sept 17, 2012, 11:27pm »

Looks like fun. I wish we had Commies around here, they look way more interesting than Democrats and Republicans and the obviously eat better as well.

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bjd
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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #23 on Sept 18, 2012, 11:35am »

I note that none of the European countries that had communism forced on them by the Soviet army were participating. Communism is always better in theory than in practice.

Auntieannie -- the ones on stilts are traditionally from the Landes, which were very swampy until they were dried up. Although the red flag with the cross on one guy's shoulders is from Midi-Pyrénées, not Aquitaine where the Landes department is.

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #24 on Sept 19, 2012, 5:21am »

Sept 18, 2012, 11:35am, bjd wrote:

I note that none of the European countries that had communism forced on them by the Soviet army were participating. Communism is always better in theory than in practice.

Actually, the German Die Linke is mostly an emanation of the former communist party of East Germany.

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #25 on Sept 19, 2012, 1:12pm »

You are right (though there are other currents in Die Linke as well, and Lafontaine was a Social-Democratic party member) - but how about the countries of the former Yugoslavia, were any represented? Saying that because the history is rather different than the other Eastern Bloc countries, resistance had far more importance, and Tito stood up to Stalin early on...

The "communism" I lived under in Perugia, Umbria consisted of social-democratic policies, generally clean and efficient governance and partisan nostalgia. Rather more benign than Soviet troops and Stalinist-era repression. Though most of those coutries were under Nazi control beforehand.

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #26 on Sept 19, 2012, 1:43pm »

Thanks, bjd! I was confused/unsure - at least didn't get the region totally wrong! phew!

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #27 on Sept 19, 2012, 2:22pm »

No, I didn't see any of ex-Yugoslavia there either (nor Albania, of course).

I was looking at communist representation figures in the French National Assembly, and I saw that there are 9 communists since the elections in June 2012. Their high point was 1978 with 86 members of parliament.

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #28 on Sept 27, 2012, 2:27am »

I'm glad you could represent us, K. What a hoot.

Hey. Where's the US booth?

The woman wrapped in Chanel logos, #14, nine down: ironically?

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Re: Fête de l'Humanité
« Reply #29 on Sept 27, 2012, 5:21pm »

Those were Tunisian singers, and I think the woman was blind, so if she was dressed ironically, it was probably not of her own doing.

I think I saw a stand of the American Communist Party the very first time I went. They probably can't afford to come.

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