Pèkèt. King of the party

Pèkèt. King of the party

Companion at work, master of traditions

by Marc Lamboray

Pèkèt was a constant companion throughout every stage of people’s lives. Whilst it was not indispensable to social cohesion, it played a major part in it. It was drunk to seal unions between fiancés and business partners. Birth and death, all the major and minor milestones of life, accorded it a leading role. On building sites and in factories – where it wreaked the most havoc – it was shared daily amongst workmates. At major celebrations, it flowed – and still flows – in abundance.

As any of the older generation will tell you, every home had a bottle of pèkèt, even if the head of the household never drank alcohol, for it was inconceivable and utterly improper to welcome a visitor with nothing but a glass of water. The rules of hospitality demanded that a small glass of this most welcoming drink be served. Our pèkèt was therefore, in all circumstances, a symbol of peace, brotherhood and solidarity. Let us not, therefore, be too quick to condemn it for the misdeeds that its excesses have inevitably caused.

Co-published by the Musée de la Parole en Ardenne and the Musée de la Grande Ardenne