The « Afart» Meal in Ariège
Per Nadal, la nèit de l'afart, or the evening meal of the Christmas Eve and its finale,
For this Christmas night, la nèit de bejelho, means that one must be lean and drink little,
The traditional dish was cod with eggs and milk sauce, merlussado de Nadal,
Accompanied by a dish of rice pudding, with sugar and vanilla and a perado, a compote of prunes and pears.
For this meal, the table was set with a beautiful tablecloth, a candle replaced the calelh that evening,
The meal finished, the remaining bread was wrapped in the tablecloth and a bottle of wine was left next to it,
When leaving for midnight mass, the table was left set and garnished with the remains of the meal,
So that the sacred figures could come and eat in turn during the starry night.
The days before, the bell ringer adjusted his carillon to the dialogue between the angels and the shepherds,
At the foot of the bell tower people came to listen and see the "grand balandran" of the bells ringing,
For Nadalet, everything was organized near the church where everyone brought mulled wine, pancakes and chocolates,
When they came down, the bell ringers and bell ringers were comforted by their convict gestures.
On Christmas Eve, the "sadouillado" of Nadal the animals must also celebrate Christmas Eve,
On the evening of December 24, an additional ration of hay and straw must be distributed to them,
If this custom is not observed the animals "renègo lé mèstré", deny their master,
And one Christmas Eve two oxen had not eaten their fill, they cursed the traitor.
That evening, the farmhand lying on the straw, in the stable, heard the two animals,
The Pardou and the Mouré speak thus: "What will we do tomorrow?" shaking their heads,
"We will take our master to the cemetery", replied the Mouré angrily,
The next day, the two oxen were tied to the cart to take the master to the cemetery.
Chosen for some time, the Turro de Nadal had to be big for the hearth,
While burning every day, this log had to last until the first of January,
Provided with cavities, surprises were hidden in it for the children,
This Christmas ember was the Christmas tree of the poor houses of yesteryear.
Before lighting it, it was covered with a peasant cloth,
The grandfather would hit it with a blow of his wand saying:
"Dégorjo!" Immediately the children looked for their surprises,
When they had found them, the log went up in exquisite flames.
At that moment, the head of the family would light a candle
And place it on the head of the eldest son, speaking to the virgin:
"T’alhuqui le cièrge sul cap. Que siosques le lum de l’oustal,
è que Dius te benazisco e te fasques creiche!"
I light the candle on your head. May you be the light of the house
and may God bless you and make you grow.
Once the log was consumed, its ashes were carefully set aside,
They were later mixed with the seed wheat, which preserved it from decay,
Elsewhere the charred fragments were collected to bury them in the stables,
The livestock was protected from spells, diseases and terrible accidents.
Guy l’ARIÉ…..JOIE