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Bastille Day means Pétanque on Smith
Josh Guttman | July 13, 2007
Tomorrow is Bastille Day and that means Sunday is the annual pétanque tournament on Smith Street. This is one of my favorite days in the neighborhood. Sponsored by Bar Tabac and supported by the other Frenchie establishments, Smith Street is closed from Dean to Bergen for the day, and pétanque courts are rolled out, two wide. There are 80 teams of three vying for the title (don’t get any ideas, the tournament sold out the first day), in what claims to be the largest pétanque tournament in the country. Beer is flowing, Blue Orchid (our local 1920s jazz band) is playing and this is one day when the neighborhood shines. Most of us probably know Bastille Day is French Independence Day, their July 4th, or Le Quatorze Juillet as they say. But what the hell is pétanque?
Well, I did some research and this is what I found. Pétanque, pronounced “pay-tahnk”, is a distant relative of horseshoes and a first cousin of the Italian ‘bocce’. The game originated in Provence in the early 1900′s. The goal is to roll a number of steel balls (“boules”) as close as possible to a small wooden target ball, called “but” or “cochonnet” (translated “piglet” in French). Players take turns and the team that ends up closest to the target ball when all balls have been played wins. Unlike horseshoes, where the aim stake is fixed, pétanques’ target ball may be hit by another ball and moved, which can turn around the score at the last second. And whereas bocce rules call for a smooth, prepared court with markers and sideboards, pétanque can be played on most outdoor surfaces. According to Pétanque America, “pétanque can be – and usually is – played while enjoying a cool drink (the French will often go for pastis) and some tasty snacks!”
I was already excited about Sunday, but I’m a little moreso now:)
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