Bitard
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Bitards is a brotherhood of inveterate revellers of the order of bitards (L'ordre des Bitards) (LST: Rented is devise)" who maintain their headquarters in Poitiers, (France) and keep alive certain traditions, e.g. the rally of the bitards and vestimentary.
François Rabelais (1494?-1553), residing in Poitiers for a long time assigns its origin to Pantagruel. These habits seem to be in fact the oldest still perpetuated student traditions.
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[edit] Student's week
Each year, in spring, a one week festival takes place called 69 ×10{{{1}}} Student's Semaine. The city of Poitiers hosts the infamous Bitardbourg . It is punctuated all the week with drinking apéritifs, while festive activities happen all day.
[edit] Hierarchy
The Order of Bitard (L.S.T.!) is headed by the Grand Maistre . It is composed of Commandeurs and Chevaliers (the dignitaries of the Order of the Bitard (L.S.T.!)) on the one hand, and of the beginners and chabousses on the other hand. Students wishing to enter the Order of Bitard start as a beginner (also called "novice"). After having proven reliable, a student can then be declared suited to become dignitary.
A Large Maistre is elected among the dignitaries, it indicates among the dignitaries a council made up of 7 members:
- Large Maistre
- Large Bitardier: guard of Venerated and nanny of the gente noviciale
- Precentor: named for the training of the loose-living women
- Large Escriturier: person in charge for the mail and the files
- Large Intendant: person in charge for logistics
- Large Wine waiter: indicated to water the students
- Minister of Finance: responsible for the pecuniary aspect
[edit] Vestimentary traditions
The bitards wear a faluche, which is the traditional cap of the students, but from which the code is different. The faluche bitarde is struck of a rafter. With this cap, the bitards wear a cape whose colour is associated with their rank amongst the Order.
