Why do we say “hot noon” ?
The surprising origin of the expression "midi pétante" and the Royal Palace cannon
"See you at noon sharp!" This is a typical French expression that you've probably heard before. If you're not the most punctual person, it can sometimes sound like a slight threat from the person you're talking to!
In this article, the Charlie Paris team reveals the surprising origin of this expression. To find out, we're heading to the gardens of the Palais-Royal, right in the heart of Paris…
The cannon of the Palais-Royal: from solar weapon to meridian
The expression "midi pétante" originates from an ingenious invention: the solar cannon.
If you've ever strolled through the gardens of the Palais-Royal, you may have noticed a curious little cannon in the middle of the lawn. If you thought it was just a decorative statue, think again! It's actually a sundial.
Installed in 1786 by Mr. Rousseau, a clockmaker in the Beaujolais gallery, this cannon is unique in that it is topped with a magnifying glass positioned along the Paris meridian. When the weather is sunny, this ingenious system concentrates the sun's rays. At precisely noon, the heat generated is sufficient to ignite the fuse and trigger a loud detonation.
What was the purpose of this solar cannon in Paris?
Far from being a weapon of destruction, this cannon once allowed Parisians to reset their watches. In an era before automatic watches existed and when... mechanical movements lacking reliability, this public time standard was indispensable.
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1911: The cannon ceased to thunder after the adoption of the Greenwich meridian as the reference time in France.
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1998: The original cannon was unfortunately stolen.
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2002: An exact replica is making its return to the gardens.
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Since 2011: Every Wednesday at "noon sharp", you can once again hear the detonation of this solar cannon!
A small modern anecdote: today, the cannon is triggered by a pyrotechnician and no longer by the simple heat of the sun, thus guaranteeing infallible accuracy.
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