Cornwall Festival. What you always wanted to know about Cornish Queens

Who will succeed Marion Burlot, the current Queen of Cornwall? Answer Sunday, July 29, at 18 h, at the foot of the Breton departmental museum in Quimper (Finistère). The one that will represent the Cornwall Festival for a year will make its appearance on the balcony. In the meantime, we take stock of the misconceptions that the competition is sometimes subject to.

The contenders for Queen of Cornwall are judged on the physical: true and false

We are not either to a contest of miss, but the physics and the elegance "count" recognizes Marie Rioual, the one in charge of the queens. For the wedding attire worn by the title contender "intervenes" in the evaluation criteria of the jury. More than having to make it, "the costume must correspond fully to the country that the candidate represents. There must be no mixture of soils. It can be vintage or a reconstruction. However, they are asked a certain intellectual baggage: "They prepare a file of about twenty pages on a theme of their choice, on an aspect of the Breton culture that they then support in public. They must also prove their talent as a dancer during the gavotte Glazik couple test. To put it simply, the election is based on "a whole" .

Not to be married: true and false

Although the contenders are not supposed to be married, "There is no strict regulatory framework" explains Marie Rioual. As for the Pacs, "I do not ask for a civil status card! But the runners-up are the queen's "bridesmaids", not "ladies"!

Must be under 25 to participate: true and false

Again, the regulatory contours are unclear. Nothing prevents, in theory, a 26-year-old woman from becoming a candidate, as long as she shows signs of "motivation" . "The jury will take into account the difference in age and maturity between them. The really essential rule is belonging to a Celtic circle of historic Cornwall and being elected queen.

The Queen's rider becomes King of Cornwall: false

Eh no! "The poor knight is only there to accompany the queen! laughs Marie Rioual. In fact, the presence of men is recent. They took part in the contest in 2000 for "to prevent the contenders from coming alone when their circle was not invited for the Sunday ceremony" . Now well settled in the landscape, "why not think about a title for these gentlemen?

To be queen is only an honorific title: true

The Queen of Cornouaille makes public representation for the festival which elected her during events of the event type. It also receives unique attributes : a gilt brooch designed "only for the festival" a wreath, a "livery" (mark of the bride, it s' orange flowers or a stream of ribbons) and a trip abroad

To speak Breton is essential: false

It's been a long time since the command of the language is no longer a requirement but simply "taken into account by the jury" . It has already happened that no contender is Breton.

The old queens compose the jury: false

This year, the jury is exceptionally composed of former Queens. Usually, people are simply "recognized for their experience and skills in Breton culture" . It can be an embroiderer as well as a historian, a costume collector or a writer, both men and women.

A contender can be accompanied by a rider: true [19659003] "The case has never been introduced Marie Rioual hesitates. But I do not see what could prevent it. "