In France, cicadas symbolize Summer time, happiness and Provence. During the Summer months, they sing from dawn to dusk in the Pine forests of Provence.
They have the reputation of bringing luck, so many homes in Provence have a ceramic one near the entrance door and inside the house.
A famous French poet, Jean de La Fontaine, wrote a fable of its life ..
The cicada and the ant*
A cicada, having sung all summer long
Found herself empty handed when the cold wind came along.
She* cried her hunger to the ant, her neighbour,
and begged her for a few seeds to go through winter.
"I will repay you", she said, "before August comes, principal and interests".
Ants are selfish, it's the smallest of their many shortcomings.
"What did you do when the weather was good ?", the ant asked the borrower.
"For everyone to enjoy, I was singing. I hope you were not bothered."
"So you sang !", the ant replied. "I am so glad to hear that. Well then, now dance !"
* Poem written in French by Jean de La Fontaine (1621 - 1695)
The original version and other fables by this poet can be found on: http://www.la-fontaine-ch-thierry.net/ Enjoy !
