Lè Mithrètè is a very special type of wooden utensil. Shaped like a small, shallow pail with a handle, it is used for eating the thick rich Gruyère cream. Unexpectedly, it is also the nickname for the inhabitants of the village of La Roche and there is a story behind that which goes back about 500 years.
At that time, the community of La Roche consisted of a widespread scattering of individual farmsteads. There was no core village and no parish church. The farmers, however, were devout Christians who went to Mass in the village of Broc, a two-hour walk away. As Mass was scheduled in the morning, the farmers from La Roche left as soon as they had finished tending to the needs of their livestock, each carrying his personal mithrètè and a thick broth for lunch. They couldn't really face the return two-hour walk without having eaten.
Inevitably, they rarely arrived for Mass on time, more often than not they were late. The parishioners of Broc used to wait for them under the church porch. As soon as they saw them arrive, they would call out "Here come the mithrètè carriers, the service can now begin".
Hence, the farmers from La Roche became known as "Lè Mithrètè".
Source
Thematic route :
A Country of Legends
Text :
Jean Brodard, from "Contes et légendes de Fribourg", Editions Monographic SA Sierre, 1984, Collection Mémoires vivantes
Translation :
Stella Bonnet-Evans
Inevitably, they rarely arrived for Mass on time, more often than not they were late. The parishioners of Broc used to wait for them under the church porch. As soon as they saw them arrive, they would call out "Here come the mithrètè carriers, the service can now begin".
Hence, the farmers from La Roche became known as "Lè Mithrètè".
Source
Thematic route :
A Country of Legends
Text :
Jean Brodard, from "Contes et légendes de Fribourg", Editions Monographic SA Sierre, 1984, Collection Mémoires vivantes
Translation :
Stella Bonnet-Evans
