Mathilde Rosso, 26 years old and a singer in the polyphonic choir Stoufa Gari, was elected Queen of May during the May festival of Old Nice, organized by Nissart Per Tougiou.
During the first half of the 20th century, each neighborhood May festival elected its Queen. The tradition was lost along with these neighborhood festivals until 2011, when the Nissart Per Tougiou association revived the idea by honoring a young girl for a day during its May festival of Old Nice.
This year, Nissart per Tougiou wanted the young girls, beyond their charm and beauty, to prove they deserved the title of Queen with Nice culture as the arbiter.
Under a radiant May sun, four young women from Nice competed, offering a magnificent show that testified to the vitality of Nice culture.
Entering the square dressed by the Nice La Belle folk group, they addressed a jury presided over by Gรฉ Albarelli, a writer for Lou Sourgentin, and showcased their talents in service of culture.
Two of them, Angรฉlique and Marie, perfectly bilingual, presented entirely in Niรงois and beautifully interpreted an excerpt from the play currently being performed at the Francis Gag theater, “Nice and Bella”. Anne surprised the audience by performing a couple’s dance choreographed for the occasion, full of grace.
As for Mathilde, before performing a traditional song, she won over the large audience with an emotionally sincere speech: “Unlike Angรฉlique and Marie, I do not speak Niรงois. Yet, Niรงois was my grandmother’s native language. But like many, she was hit on the fingers at school when she spoke patois words. […] I have always felt Niรงois, but detached from traditions and my roots. Until I met the music group Lu Rauba Capeu during a concert in Roya. They played local music and were followed by hundreds of young people. The change was total, now I know I am no longer alone.”
The jury, equally moved, elected her Queen of May.
Thus, Mathilde becomes the icon of Nice culture and will keep her crown until May 2015; she will be present at numerous events. Already more than ten associations support this project and recognize the royal status of the winner.
