The first festival of the Niรงoise spring, the Festin des Cougourdons, is taking place this Sunday, March 26th, in the Olive Grove of the Cimiez Arena Gardens.
Every year, this festive gathering, enlivened by the dances and songs of the County of Nice, attracts nearly 3,000 people!
On this occasion, Philippe Pradal, Jean-Luc Gag, and the Committee of Niรงoise Traditions laid a wreath at the War Memorial, then shared a toast in the Olive Grove of the Cimiez Arena Gardens.
Many artisans and folk groups participate in this traditional festival: Nice la Belle, la Ciamada Nissarda, Arcadanse, and the City of Nice’s fire department band.
The “cougourdon” is the Niรงoise name given to the fruit of a plant from the gourd family. This inedible vegetable, introduced to our region in the 16th century, was quickly adopted by the people of Nice. Waterproof, once dried in the sun, it is often used as a kitchen utensil. Its unique shapes inspire artisans. Musicians also discover in this atypical vegetable a strong musical potential. It continues to inspire Niรงoise musicians and artists who preserve and reinvent the tradition of the “cougourdon.”
