Lé Viaer Marchi (

Guernésiais Guernésiais (), also known as Guerneseyese, ''Dgèrnésiais'', Guernsey French, and Guernsey Norman French, is the variety of the Norman language spoken in Guernsey. It is sometimes known on the island simply as "patois". As one of the langues d ...

: ''the old market'') is an annual community festival held in

Guernsey Guernsey ( ; Guernésiais: ''Guernési''; ) is the second-largest island in the Channel Islands, located west of the Cotentin Peninsula, Normandy. It is the largest island in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, which includes five other inhabited isl ...

, generally on the first Monday of July. Guernsey 2012 037

Purpose and organisation

Lé Viaer Marchi is both a cultural show event, and the most important fundraising event for the National Trust of Guernsey. Organised by a committee within the National Trust and generally run on the first Monday each July, it is a re-enactment of a 1900s market fair, complete with cultural aspects.

History

The regular reenactment of a market fair was begun in 1969 by Peggy Carey, later an MBE, who, with four friends, had in 1960 founded the National Trust of Guernsey. From the beginning known as ''Viaer Marchi'' or ''old market'', the first event took place in the courtyard of the Guernsey Folk Museum in Saumarez Park, and it is still generally held within the park. As of 2019, for the 50th anniversary, the organising committee was headed by the founder's grandson, Andrew Carey. It was deferred in 2012 due to a royal visit and cancelled for 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Structure

The fair showcases local craftsmanship in Guernsey's history and includes displays showing the way in which Guernseymen and women used to live. Delicacies and traditional foods and drinks are served, with Guernsey Bean Jar being one of the most popular, along with Guernsey Gâche (a type of fruit bread), honey, butter and both mead and

cider Cider ( ) is an alcoholic beverage made from the Fermented drink, fermented Apple juice, juice of apples. Cider is widely available in the United Kingdom (particularly in the West Country) and Ireland. The United Kingdom has the world's highest ...

. There is also a selection of activities for children. There are stalls set up for various bric-a-brac. Craftwork sold includes woodwork and

lace Lace is a delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open weblike pattern, made by machine or by hand. Generally, lace is split into two main categories, needlelace and bobbin lace, although there are other types of lace, such as knitted o ...

. Entertainment includes traditional dancing, bands performing local folk music, street entertainers, and sometimes

Punch and Judy Punch and Judy is a traditional puppet show featuring Mr Punch and his wife Judy. The performance consists of a sequence of short scenes, each depicting an interaction between two characters, most typically the anarchic Mr Punch and one other ...

shows. Typically the show attracts around 6,000 visitors, between locals and tourists.

References

{{reflist

External links

National Trust of Guernsey Video
Culture of Guernsey