1Â A hymn to Gascony
This year, La Passem has adopted an anthem: “Lhèva-te”, which means “rise”. “Roar, roar with pleasure to spread the language from before French,” proclaims the song, written and composed by a duo, Juliette Minvielle from Sud-Gironde and Jordan Tisnèr from Béarn.
Available on Youtube, the video shot in the Landes at the beginning of the year has already been viewed more than 2,500 times. “Lhèva-te” will be broadcast throughout the course and sung by many children. The original performers will have the opportunity to perform on stage at the start of the race in Bedous (64).
2 Grand celebrations, from start to finish
La Passem will kick off on April 30 at noon, with a first small loop of an hour and a half before leaving Bedous. But the celebration will continue in the town with performances by schoolchildren (singing, dancing), theater pieces, a traditional dance, and finally a concert by Juliette Minvielle and Jordan Tisnèr, at 9 pm and as long as there are people to sing,” according to Serge Mauhourat from the Vath d’Aspa association.
“Roar, roar with pleasure to spread the language from before French”
In Anglet, ten days later, the festival will take place at the Barre site. The day organized by the Hèstas e Pastorales association will start at 10 am with a market of local producers from the eight departments crossed by the Occitan race. The ice rink will host bilingual exhibitions about the Adour River, the fauna and flora of Gascony, and Gascon sports.
Close to the Hormadi arena, inflatable structures will allow the public to try hockey as well as Basque pelota Рwith the world champion of pala larga, Dan N̩col. Finally, after the race finishes just before 7 pm, three musical shows will liven up the closing evening: tot vedent, Karnahash, and Tust, with transitions by the musicians of Galactic Aulh̬rs.
3 The associative world in the spotlight
Between these two main highlights, La Passem will come alive in all the towns and villages along the route, thanks to the involvement of over 400 volunteers. “The race is divided into large sectors where local associations have full freedom to organize activities,” says Emma Bayle of Ligams, who coordinates the large-scale event.
Naturally, the most festive towns and villages will be those fortunate enough to see the race pass by during the day or early evening. In the south of Lot-et-Garonne, for example, Dany Madier-Dauba from the Culturas d’Oc association invites the public to attend on May 6 in Houeillès and Casteljaloux.
