But do you know the legend of the snow eggs?
But who is Dame Pernette? What did she do to get her name on a village square and street?
Quite a story:
In 1314, Guillaume de Joinville was Lord of Gex. At that time, the village of Mijoux belonged to the seigneury of Gex. The people of Mijoux were bound by a curious custom: on Easter Monday, they offered the lord of Gex a large dish of snow or a pair of white oxen! History does not tell us who instituted this curious custom. But what is certain is that, in 1314, the inhabitants were very worried because they would never be able to make the obligatory offering.
And why not a dish of snow that year?
That’s right! An early spring flooded the valley. A breeze so warm that in March, the month of Easter, there was not a patch of snow left on the high plateaux of the Jura. The valley was as green as an emerald. The situation was critical! Several times, the fastest boys had climbed as far as Crêt de la Neige. But given the temperature, despite all their care, they had only brought back a little dirty water at the bottom of their “bouille”. The precious snow melted as soon as it left its rocky home.
But what can you do without snow?
Buying a pair of oxen was out of the question, it was too expensive. The whole village was in anguish, and everyone was united in their misfortune. It was Holy Week and no solution had been found. One evening, however, Dame Pernette, the village innkeeper, was visited by Jules, the oldest shepherd, and Brother Benoît. They talked for a long time, because late at night, the light filtered through the closed shutters. The next morning, the shepherds brought good news: Dame Pernette had found a way to get them out of trouble.
Dame Pernette was known to be as prudent as she was wise. She could be trusted, and the Mijolands awaited the arrival of the Sire de Gex. He arrived on this beautiful Easter Monday with a few squires. As is customary, he was welcomed by three monks at the entrance to the village. Things proceeded as usual. And in the early afternoon, under the shade of a pine tree, Guillaume de Joinville received the homage of his subjects.
Rosine, Dame Pernette’s daughter, all pink and blonde, offered the snow in her most beautiful curtsy, and the dish was received by a squire who placed it beside him on the ground. Everything seemed to be going swimmingly, and the parade of favour-seekers began. Suddenly, horrifyingly, the dogs that had been frolicking around were licking the snow dish with obvious satisfaction.
The wrath of William de Joinville…
The Sire de Gex rose to his feet, his eyes blazing with anger : “I’ve been played,” he said, “I’ll have you all hanged. Brother Benoît, then full of respectful dignity, put his hand on the arm of the Sire de Gex: “No, my lord, you will do nothing of the sort, we are in the holy season of Easter, and besides, the offering is valid, we must offer you snow, but isn’t it specified which kind? This is egg snow, so you’re not harmed or offended”.
Guillaume de Joinville was a wise man, but above all a gourmand
If he had all these people hanged, that would be the end of Dame Pernette’s trout with onion purée! The delicious chevrets that were brought to her every week… ” That’s fine,” he said, “I forgive you, but I’d like to have a taste of that egg snow too “. Rosine didn’t have to say it twice, and ran down the steep hill to her mother’s inn, from where she soon returned, carefully carrying a wooden bowl with snowballs floating on a golden cream. Sir de Gex inhaled the sweet scent of vanilla and savoured this unknown delicacy. When he had emptied the bowl, a smile finally lit up his face…
From now on,” he said, “I don’t want any more snow as an offering. I forgive the deception and I order Dame Pernette to teach my cook how to make this egg snow!
It was only when we could no longer hear the stones rolling under the horses’ hooves that our chests finally began to expand. Dame Pernette summed up the situation for Brother Benoit:
“Brother, that was a close one!”
Now, when you’re enjoying your snow eggs, remember Dame Pernette. She saved her village, Mijoux, from servitude!
Thematics
