In 2008, the Calandretas celebrate their 29th anniversary. The little swallows (“swallow” being the meaning, let’s remember, of “calandreta” in Gascon) are definitely not looking their age. Mischievous, laughing, playful, always proud of their benevolent and stimulating inner children. This beautiful year will be marked by the UN International Year of Languages. A good sign, isn’t it? Certainly.
Thus, the month of July 2008 will be a particularly important month since, following article 75 of the Constitution, an article 75-1 will be inserted notifying that “the regional languages belong to the heritage of France”. Victoire ! Regional languages will now be constitutionally recognized!
The 2008-2009 school year will see the opening of schools in Gaillac and Albi. And if you like numbers, here are some of them: 2,541 Calandrons attend the now 50 Calandretas establishments (48 schools and 2 colleges). Swallows nests multiply. The chicks chirp. Language and culture spread and radiate. A real joy…
Let us now enter the year 2009: that of the 30th anniversary of the movement! A long way. A little life, almost. On October 24, an event celebrating Occitan – which we could describe, without exaggerating too much, as splendid – takes place in the vicinity of Carcassonne: 25,000 people march! The energy, the desire, the passion and the motivation of the first years are still very much alive. Visible.
The years 2010 to 2019 will welcome the Calandretas de Pépieux, Le Bosc, Mazères-Lezons, Saint-Céré, Saint-Girons and many more… Note that 2019, the year of the resplendent 40-year-olds, will have been that of the first course completed as a whole: being calandron from kindergarten to high school is finally possible!
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