Jersey Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description

The Bailiwick of Jersey is a British crown dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, it also includes the uninhabited islands of Minquiers and Ecréhous. Along with the Bailiwick of Guernsey it forms the grouping known as the Channel Islands. The defence of all these islands is the responsibility of the United Kingdom. However, Jersey is not part of the UK, but is rather a separate possession of the Crown, comparable to the Isle of Man. It is not a part of the European Union either.

History

Jersey was annexed to the Duchy of Normandy by William Longsword, Duke of Normandy in 933. His heir the Conqueror, conquered England in 1066, which led to the Duchy of Normandy and the kingdom of England being governed under one monarch. King John lost all his territories in mainland Normandy in 1204 to the King of France, but retained possession of Jersey, along with Guernsey and the other Channel Islands.

Jersey was occupied by Nazi Germany from 1 May, 1940, and was held until 9 May, 1945, the end of World War II.

Politics

Jersey's legislature is the States of Jersey. It includes 53 elected members - 12 senators (elected for 6-year terms), 12 constables (heads of parishes elected for 3-year terms), 29 deputies (elected for 3-year terms); the Bailiff and the Deputy Bailiff (appointed to preside over the assembly and having a casting vote in favour of the status quo when presiding); and 3 non-voting members - the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General all appointed by the Crown. Government departments are run by committees of the States. The civil head of the Island is the Bailiff. No political parties currently have representation in the States.

The legal system is based on Norman customary law (including the Clameur de Haro), statute and English law; justice is administered by the Royal Court.

Elizabeth II's traditional title as head of state is that of Duke of Normandy, but she does not hold that title formally. She reigns by her position as Queen over a crown dependency.

Geography

Jersey is a 43 sq. mi. (112 km²) island in the English Channel, approximately 12 mi. from the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy, France. It is the largest and southernmost of Channel Islands.

The climate is temperate with mild winters and cool summers. The terrain consists of gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast.

Economy

Jersey's economy is based on financial services, tourism, internet trade and agriculture. There is no free movement of people between the United Kingdom or other countries of the European Union and Jersey.

Jersey issues its own Jersey banknotes and coins which circulate with UK currency, Scottish notes and Guernsey currency within the island..

Coinage

Demographics

30% of population is concentrated in Saint Helier.

Culture

Jèrriais, the island's Norman language, is spoken by a minority of the population, although it was the majority language in the 19th century. Many place names are in Jèrriais, and French and English place names are also to be found.

Some Neolithic carvings are the earliest works of artistic character to be found in Jersey. Only fragmentary wall-paintings remain from the rich mediaeval artistic heritage, after the wholesale iconoclasm of the Calvinist reformation of the 16th century.

Printing only arrived in Jersey in the 1780s, but the island supported a multitude of regular publications in French (and Jèrriais) and English throughout the 19th century, in which poetry, most usually topical and satirical, flourished.

John Everett Millais, Elinor Glyn and Wace are among Jersey's artistic figures. Lillie Langtry, the Jersey Lily, is the island's most widely recognised cultural icon.

The island's patron saint is Saint Helier.

Food and drink

Seafood has traditionally been important to the cuisine of Jersey: mussels, oysters, lobster and crabs - especially spider crabs which are considered a particular delicacy. Razor-fishing, sand-eeling and limpeting used to be popular activities but have declined in importance. Ormers, being highly sought after, are conserved and fishing is restricted. Another seafood specialty is conger soup.

Bean crock (les pais au fou) can best be described as a sort of Norman cassoulet and in the past was so ubiquitous that English-speaking visitors, purporting to believe that the people of Jersey ate nothing else, dubbed the inhabitants Jersey beans (this epithet is considered derogatory).

Jersey wonders (les mèrvelles) a sort of rich twisted doughnut is made less in the home than formerly but is still a popular treat at fairs and festivals.

Cabbage loaf is the traditional Jersey bread baked between two cabbage leaves.

Jersey milk being very rich, cream and butter have played a large part in insular cooking. Unlike other parts of the Duchy of Normandy, there is no historical tradition of cheese - Jersey people traditionally preferring rich yellow thickly-spread butter.

Apples historically were an important crop. Bourdélots are apple dumplings, but the most typical speciality is black butter (lé nièr beurre), a dark spicy spread prepared from apples, cider and spices. Annual black butter nights (séthées d'nièr beurre) in autumn are still an important traditional social occasion in country areas; the stirring must be maintained around the clock.

Cider used to be an important export. After decline and near-disappearance in the late 20th century, apple production is being increased and promoted. Apple brandy is also produced. Some wine is produced.

See also

• Communications in Jersey
• Transportation in Jersey
• Jersey Post
• Jersey Telecom
• BBC Radio Jersey

• States of Jersey
• Jersey Tourism
• BBC Jersey
• CIA World Factbook [1] 2000

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