Chienlit
Encyclopedia
Chienlit is a traditional French
term typically translated as masquerade
(French Mascarade) or carnival/chaos. It was brought to notoriety by General Charles de Gaulle
in an angry speech during the student protests in Paris
during May 1968 in France, when he used the vernacular
term as a scatological pun
"La réforme oui, la chie-en-lit non" meaning Reform yes, but chaos - no whilst the pun was Reform - yes, shit in bed - no .
The term is now common parlance in French political commentary, used both critically and ironically referring back to de Gaulle.
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The blurred etymological origin of chie-en-lit / chienlit was the medieval carnival
/masquerade
when peasants and artisans had one day per year to celebrate, to abandon all work and chores, to abandon contemporary mores and conventions, to crap in bed. Somebody would be chosen as king for a day, and even the lord of the manor sometimes joined in, enduring ritual humiliation, such as being led through the streets like a servant, or slave, or dog.
The first known appearance of the term is in the 16th century novel The Life of Gargantua and of Pantagruel
by François Rabelais
. and it was used by Émile Zola
in both Nana
(1880), and L'Assommoir
(1887).
during May 1968 in France, when he used the vernacular
term as a scatological pun
"La réforme oui, la chie-en-lit non" meaning shit in bed. He used it first in a private meeting discussing the demand for direct participation in business and government by students and workers. This was first reported by the Minister of Information Georges Gorse
and softened by the French media to 'masquerade/chaos'. De Gaulle then repeated it in a TV broadcast for high impact.
Subsequently the students re-used the expression on leaflets where the silhouette of de Gaulle was accompanied by the slogans "La chienlit, c'est lui ! - the chienlit, it is him!" and "La chienlit, c'est encore lui ! - it is still him!".
Chienlit was then mistranslated by The Guardian
and the English press corps as chien lit - dog bed, alluding to a dishevelled, malodorous, flea pit.
The term is now common parlance in French political commentary, used both critically and ironically referring back to de Gaulle.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
term typically translated as masquerade
Masquerade ceremony
A masquerade ceremony is a cultural or religious event involving the wearing of masks.Examples include the West African and African Diaspora masquerades, such as Egungun Masquerades, Northern Edo Masquerades, Caribbean Carnival and Jonkonnu.-External links:* - slideshow by Life magazine*...
(French Mascarade) or carnival/chaos. It was brought to notoriety by General Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
in an angry speech during the student protests in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
during May 1968 in France, when he used the vernacular
Vernacular
A vernacular is the native language or native dialect of a specific population, as opposed to a language of wider communication that is not native to the population, such as a national language or lingua franca.- Etymology :The term is not a recent one...
term as a scatological pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
"La réforme oui, la chie-en-lit non" meaning Reform yes, but chaos - no whilst the pun was Reform - yes, shit in bed - no .
The term is now common parlance in French political commentary, used both critically and ironically referring back to de Gaulle.
Origins
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
/masquerade
Masquerade ceremony
A masquerade ceremony is a cultural or religious event involving the wearing of masks.Examples include the West African and African Diaspora masquerades, such as Egungun Masquerades, Northern Edo Masquerades, Caribbean Carnival and Jonkonnu.-External links:* - slideshow by Life magazine*...
when peasants and artisans had one day per year to celebrate, to abandon all work and chores, to abandon contemporary mores and conventions, to crap in bed. Somebody would be chosen as king for a day, and even the lord of the manor sometimes joined in, enduring ritual humiliation, such as being led through the streets like a servant, or slave, or dog.
The first known appearance of the term is in the 16th century novel The Life of Gargantua and of Pantagruel
Gargantua and Pantagruel
The Life of Gargantua and of Pantagruel is a connected series of five novels written in the 16th century by François Rabelais. It is the story of two giants, a father and his son and their adventures, written in an amusing, extravagant, satirical vein...
by François Rabelais
François Rabelais
François Rabelais was a major French Renaissance writer, doctor, Renaissance humanist, monk and Greek scholar. He has historically been regarded as a writer of fantasy, satire, the grotesque, bawdy jokes and songs...
. and it was used by Émile Zola
Émile Zola
Émile François Zola was a French writer, the most important exemplar of the literary school of naturalism and an important contributor to the development of theatrical naturalism...
in both Nana
Nana (novel)
Nana is a novel by the French naturalist author Émile Zola. Completed in 1880, Nana is the ninth installment in the 20-volume Les Rougon-Macquart series, the object of which was to tell "The Natural and Social History of a Family under the Second Empire", the subtitle of the series.-Origins:A year...
(1880), and L'Assommoir
L'Assommoir
L'Assommoir is the seventh novel in Émile Zola's twenty-volume series Les Rougon-Macquart. Usually considered one of Zola's masterpieces, the novel—a harsh and uncompromising study of alcoholism and poverty in the working-class districts of Paris—was a huge commercial success and established...
(1887).
Charles de Gaulle
'Chienlit' was brought to notoriety by General Charles de Gaulle in an angry speech during the student protests in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
during May 1968 in France, when he used the vernacular
Vernacular
A vernacular is the native language or native dialect of a specific population, as opposed to a language of wider communication that is not native to the population, such as a national language or lingua franca.- Etymology :The term is not a recent one...
term as a scatological pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
"La réforme oui, la chie-en-lit non" meaning shit in bed. He used it first in a private meeting discussing the demand for direct participation in business and government by students and workers. This was first reported by the Minister of Information Georges Gorse
Georges Gorse
Georges Gorse was a French politician and diplomat.Born in Cahors, he qualified in 1939 as a professor at the University of Cairo...
and softened by the French media to 'masquerade/chaos'. De Gaulle then repeated it in a TV broadcast for high impact.
Subsequently the students re-used the expression on leaflets where the silhouette of de Gaulle was accompanied by the slogans "La chienlit, c'est lui ! - the chienlit, it is him!" and "La chienlit, c'est encore lui ! - it is still him!".
Chienlit was then mistranslated by The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and the English press corps as chien lit - dog bed, alluding to a dishevelled, malodorous, flea pit.
The term is now common parlance in French political commentary, used both critically and ironically referring back to de Gaulle.