From costume parades to symbolic archery and entertainment for young and old, let yourself be carried away by the warm atmosphere of this celebration, which has been making the town of Gex vibrate for centuries.
The history of the bird festival
According to legend, the festival is associated with the image of Léonette de Joinville. Léonette, heiress to the barony of Gex, married Simon de Joinville in 1252. For half a century, she ruled the barony of Gex, from Châtillon-en-Michaille to Versoix.
Around 1225, the marriage of Léonette, Dame de Gex, to the Prince of Joinville brought great festivities and celebrations to the bailliage.
The table of the newlyweds and the lords was overflowing with the most varied dishes. Some superb birds with juicy, golden flesh and a mouth-watering appetite aroused the covetousness of a few commoners. Some of the more daring approached the lordly table and demanded a share of the birds.
The Prince of Joinville, outraged by such impudence, decided to hang the peasants to punish them for their insolence. More forgiving, the gentle Léonette interceded on behalf of her people and mercy was granted. To settle the dispute, the birds were hoisted to the top of a pike.
The best marksmen practise on this target, and their skill wins them the coveted prize. This game, which grew out of a quarrel, amused the lords, who decided to repeat it every Trinity Sunday on their lady’s wedding anniversary. The winner is proclaimed King of the Bird and, if he repeats the feat, obtains a title and rank in the States.
And so, year after year, century after century, the legend of the Bird has enlivened the festivities of the Bailliage of Gex.
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