The Sarbacane of the Loire is a specifically cultural practice related to the town of Saint-Etienne and its area.

History

• the Blowpipe by itself, is known since the Antiquité as a weapon among various people of the whole world. Its origins in the area of the the Loire, like those of its traditional activity, are very obscure and dubious.

• the Blowpipe forever be, to our knowledge, a weapon of war in France. It could be introduced in Europe at the time of the invasion Sarrasine or, according to another assumption, by the large explorers Des. It is perhaps also quite simply the re-use in ludic form of the guns of rifle of the 17th century.

• This play old has competitive vocation, also called Jeu of the breath , is a tradition of the inheritance inhabitant of Saint-Etienne. He is practiced only with Saint-Etienne and in the surrounding communes. Research carried out to support the assumption that the shooting with the Sarbacane could be practiced in other areas of France is remained vain. No encyclopedia, no large dictionary, mentions organized company, except in the Northern , where existed a rather nearby play, but which is not practiced today any more for a long time. The files do not give us more information on the origins of the activity. Is this quite simply the transformation of a set of children by and for the adults?

• the majority of associations were created during first half of the 19th century. However one finds trace of companies much older. A letter addressed to the prefect in August 1868 indicates that the company known as “ Sarbacane ” street Croix Air shaft with Saint-Etienne, was founded in 1774. Another would have been founded in 1779. The cadrastal map of 1793 would let appear two sites of shooting to the blowpipe.

• the shooting with the blowpipe is especially practiced by worker manuals (arms manufacturers, hand braid makers, dyers,…) and not only, as it is too often thought, by the miner, and having each one their Plays. (The word Jeux is employed here to indicate the place where one practices the shooting with the blowpipe). In 1855 the minors accounted for only 6% of practitioners out of 1466 players. In fact, the mass of the practitioners is representative of working fabric of the basin inhabitant of Saint-Etienne. One did not meet much between Jeux. Some being richer than others.

• the Plays, from their name resemble much brotherhoods or the trade-guild maconnic. One finds: Fraternity , the Friendly Francs , Cheerfulness , Frank Honesty , the Brought together Friends , etc the companies will take also a name referring instead of their head office: Play of Sauvanière , Play of the Boats , Play of Champrond , etc the concept of mutual aid is very strong.

• the members are called Chevalier and the leaders are treated on a hierarchical basis by their title: Captain, are equivalent today to President, Trésorier. To advise, Secretary, Provost, more particularly charged with the Discipline, etc One finds these ranks and names in the Companies of Tir to the traditional arc.

• All associations are about identical. An easily recognizable playing field in the open air with its traditional mast of Shooting to the Papegai , with one or two rooms contiguous according to whether the part circle or hearth is distinct from the space of shooting. A more or less decorated sign announces the Play to the passers by. Being useful is the manager of the Play. It is placed and touches a percentage on consumption.

• the July 23rd 1893, the captains of the 49 companies of the area gather with the Play Honesty and decide to create a Fédération gathering all the Plays of Sarbacane. During several years they will study statutes and payments which will manage all associations. It is the May 10th 1896 which the prefecture will accept the first statutes of the Departmental federation of the Plays of Blowpipe of the the Loire.

• the payments of this time are very rigorous. A system of fine was set up and the least language or misdemeanor obliged the Knight to put his mite in the box envisaged for this purpose. It should be noted that these limp are all resembling of a company another.

• the rites are very thorough. The admission of a new Knight is connected with an initiation. Of course, the women are not allowed. The applicant must be 21 years old completed (18, for the son of a member), to be presented by 2 godfathers members of the company, admitted by vote in the presence of all the members. The Captain announces Trait and gives the Blowpipe to the newcomer who draws in his turn. The Captain declares then aloud: " with the honor of the company, we receive you Chevalier D". The member elect answers while greeting. One gives then the book of the payment and the badges of the company to him which it pays. II sign its admission and one drinks a reception.

• the name of Baveux does not have either an unquestionable origin. Two aspects are offered to us. Either it comes owing to the fact that during the shooting, the Souffleur projects saliva in the gun, or owing to the fact that at the time of the reception of the ceremony of admission, glass of the bearing member elect dissimulated in the edge of small holes, when the new Knight drinks, it " bave".

Nowadays

• Aujourd'hui the payments were softened much. All these rites do not have any more course. The contests are opened to the women since the beginning of the years 1970 and to the young people as from 10 years since 1989 only. II is not rare maintaining to see in the contests, of the whole families to come to measure itself in a relaxed but serious environment.

• associations also evolved/moved. The first associations added other activities like the balls or the Billard. It is the case as example of the ESA Rock-the-Molière, of the Play of the Eagle. News, often multi-field, was born and incorporated the shooting in the Sarbacane among their activities: " The Chambonnaire" Alarm clock; , Friendly Laymen, etc

The Committee

• In 1988, the Federation becomes the " Departmental committee of the Plays of Blowpipe of the Loire ". He is member of the Olympic and Sporting Departmental committee of the Loire . In order to develop the practice of the shooting with the blowpipe it continues since a strong promotional activity. mainly in direction of the young people, and does not hesitate either with expatrier when the opportunity arises. That it is in other areas of France (Ugine in Savoy, Vals the Baths in Ardèche, Sarlat in the Périgord) or abroad (Poland, Germany, Portugal) for example.

• the year 2000 knew an event without precedent for the discipline. 10 holders of the BEESAPT (Patent of Sporting Educational State Activities For All) received a specific training. This allowing to have specialized professional teachers being able to teach the practice of the shooting to the blowpipe in the recreational centres, the schools, the outdoor centres and of course in our associations.

• Since 2001 a manufacture of blowpipe started in a workshop of work adapted of the association of the " Physically handicapped people (IMC) Cérébraux" from the Loire, allowing to provide the request of the practitioners who did not have their own material but also new associations and new practitioners.

• To date, 10 associations are adherent with the Departmental committee, That represents some 350 more or less assiduous practitioners. Among those it is necessary to count 135 candidates engaged in the championship.

• the Departmental committee also proposes a teaching cycle, allowing in ludic form, initiation with the shooting with the blowpipe of children in school.

• Of the contacts exists with other associations. II is necessary to hope that, if all do not concretize their interest for this discipline, some will come to enlarge the rows of the practitioners.

External bond

• Official site