Feu de joie
A feu de joie (French: "fire of joy") is a rifle salute, described as a "running fire of guns", on occasions of public rejoicing of nation and/or ruling dynasty. It can also mean a bonfire lit in a public place as a token of joy.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, it was used to mark a military victory or birthday. A feu de joie is not to be confused with the 21-gun salute (or 19-gun or 17-gun, etc.) which uses a battery of artillery pieces, nor with the 3-volley salute performed at military funerals.
Contents |
[edit] Historical precedents
A spectacular feu de joie ran up and down double lines of infantrymen at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, on 6 May 1778 to celebrate America's alliance with France. It is re-enacted yearly.
Queen Victoria's proclamation as Empress of India in Delhi on 1 January 1877 was followed with a feu de joie described by Field Marshal Lord Roberts: "a salute of one hundred and one salvos of artillery was fired, with a feu-de-joie from the long line of troops. This was too much for the elephants. As the feu-de-joie approached nearer and nearer to them, they became more and more alarmed, and at last scampered off, dispersing the crowd in every direction."[citation needed]
A Captain Eben Williams witnessed a feu de joie during summer 1782 at West Point, to celebrate the birth of the Dauphin of France.
[edit] Delhi Durbar 1911
During the Delhi Coronation Durbar of King George V, a Feu de Joi followed the 101 Gun Salute during the State Entry ceremony on 07 Dec 1911.(Coronation Durbar 1911 Official Directory with Maps - Superintendent Government Printing India Calcutta 1911 )
[edit] Queen Elizabeth II 80th Birthday
As part of Elizabeth II's 80th birthday celebrations, a spectacular feu-de-joie occurred on the Forecourt of Buckingham Palace on 17 June 2006 following the RAF flypast after Trooping the Colour. (Although there was a feu-de-joie outside the Commonwealth buildings in Berlin, 1953 to mark her coronation, this is the first feu de joie during Her Majesty's reign to be performed in her presence.)
A cascade of rounds was fired by the Old Guard, the New Guard and six Half Companies of Street-Liners in the Forecourt of the Palace. The cascades of blank gunshots were interspersed with the National Anthem, God Save the Queen. After the feu de joie the troops on the Forecourt laid down their weapons, removed their headgear and gave "Three Cheers for Her Majesty The Queen".
[edit] Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada also performs the Feu de Joie on the annual graduation parade where the graduates are commissioned. The Feu de Joie is performed with 500 C7 rifles on average.[1]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- 6 May, 1778, Valley Forge
- Valley Forge website describing historical reenactment of feu de joie
- Marshal Lord Roberts's account of 1 January 1877, following the proclamation of Queen Victoria as Empress of India
- Article giving Capt. Eben Williams's recollection of a feu de joie in 1782 celebrating the birth of the Dauphin of France
