In Provence, many poets, félibres *, storytellers and singers took the Cicada like topic.

During the second world war, in Quinson, in Alp-of-High-Provence, existed a troop of singers amateurs, called "Cigalounettes", directed by Mr. Prior. In this troop, young artists, Charles and Aïda Aznavourian, sang. The future large star (Mr Charles AZNAVOUR) was 15 years old. Perhaps still remembers it to have been a "Cigalounet"?.

The anecdotes, whose our Cicada is the high-speed motorboat, are common in Provence. I then to prevent me from bringing back one of them to you, quoted by Mr Jean Claude Rey**, storyteller of Luberon, in his excellent work: "the book of the Cicada" to the editions "Other Time"***.

"the mayor of Lagnes and cicadas

Time that he was a mayor of Lagnes, with the foot of Western Luberon, my friend Jean Lèbre saw its village enlarging each summer of a certain number of secondary residents or episodical tourists allured by the environment.
Among those, there was a couple which took the trouble to write to the mayor to require: "wouldn't it be possible to find a solution to make conceal the cicadas during the nap of the afternoon? "
[... ] There is beautiful "armoured" being when one is elected village, similar request désarçonne a little and one are caught to dream with the naivety of certain townsmen who believe that a mayor can do everything, including making conceal the cicadas and to perhaps even stop violences of the mistral!
Nevertheless, Jean Lèbre let know with the petitioners that it was going to propose with the town council the vote of a special decree, whose it joined the draft-project to a mail which remained alas unanswered.
But Jean Lèbre preserved a long time by-towards him (and perhaps it still has it) the text of this decree which it never made vote with his town council... What is a pity well for the history of the cicada. Here this text:

"Common of Lagnes,
Us Jean Lèbre, Mayor of Lagnes,
Considering the Code of Municipal authorities,
Considering the petition presented by certain estival inhabitants,
Waited until it rests with to us to protect the good health from the population,
Waited until it rests with to us to maintain the reputation of good hospitality of our village,
Let us stop:

Article 1 : it is interdict with the sedentary cicadas or of passage to disturb the silence of the countryside and the village of Lagnes by their song between thirteen and sixteen hours during July and August of each year, starting from the date of application of this decree.

Article 2 : The inhabitants of Lagnes, and it rural policeman, are invited to take care scrupulously of I' application of this municipal Council Decision.

Fact with Lagnes it...
Signed: The Mayor, Jean Lèbre