Serge (llama)

Serge the llama (born 29 June 2005, Saint-Nazaire) is a llama in the circus Cirque Franco-Italien of John Beautour and internet meme. Serge was named after the French singer Serge Lama, who described the choice of name as "genius".

During the night of 30 to 31 October, while the circus was performing in Bordeaux, the llama was taken from its cage by a group of five youngsters returning from a disco. They took the llama out for a walk, posted some pictures on social media, and took it on a tram. The five were arrested by the police and Serge was returned to his owner, unharmed.

Initially the circus director John Beautour pressed charges. However, the photos went viral on the internet, leading to a lot of publicity for the circus. Beautour subsequently dropped the charges.

The llama, now a celebrity, was bookable for parties at 1200 euros per event, and appeared as a mascot at soccer games.

A parody Stromae's song Papaoutai "Lamaoutai" was viewed more than 4 million times on YouTube. The parody was made with the cooperation of the circus and Serge himself.

Serge

Serge may refer to:

See also

Serge (fabric)

Serge is a type of twill fabric that has diagonal lines or ridges on both sides, made with a two-up, two-down weave. The worsted variety is used in making military uniforms, suits, great coats and trench coats. Its counterpart, silk serge, is used for linings. French serge is a softer, finer variety. The word is also used for a high quality woolen woven fabric.

Etymology and history

The name is derived from Old French serge, itself from Latin serica, from Greek σηρικός (serikos), meaning "silken". The early association of silk serge, Greece, and France is shown by the discovery in Charlemagne's tomb of a piece of silk serge dyed with Byzantine motifs, evidently a gift from the Byzantine Imperial Court in the 8th or 9th century AD. It also appears to refer to a form of silk twill produced in the early renaissance in or around Florence, used for clerical cassocks. A reference can be found in Don Quixote: "I am more pleased to have found it than anyone had given me a Cassock of the best Florentine serge" (The Curate, Book I, Chapter VI).

Serge (name)

Sergius /ˈsɜːrdʒ/ is a male given name of Roman origin. Although it is highly infrequent in the English language, variants of Sergius are a common in various languages historically linked to Christendom and the Roman Empire. Examples are Sérgio in Portuguese, Sergiu in Romanian, Sergio in Italian and Spanish, Sergey / Sergei in Russian and Serge in French.

Etymology

The name originates from the Roman nomen (patrician family name) Sergius, and this from a more ancient Etruscan name.

Worldwide

The Armenian male given name Սարգիս (Sarkis) is descended from Sergius. Сергей (transliteration Sergey or Sergei pronounced [sʲɪrˈɡʲej]), is a male given name, very common in Russia because of the popularity of the Russian Orthodox saint Sergius of Radonezh. It is also used in Bulgaria. There is no corresponding female version of this name. The diminutive form of this name is Серёжа (transliteration Seryozha pronounced [sʲɪˈrʲɵʐə]). The name Сергей was especially popular in Russia in the 1980s, when it was second only to Aleksandr. Сергій (transliteration Serhiy, Sergiy, Sergii or Serhii pronounced [sɛrˈɦij]) is a male given name in Ukraine. The diminutive form of this name is Сергійко (transliteration Sergiyko or Serhiyko pronounced [sɛrˈɦijkɔ]). Сяргей (transliteration Siarhei pronounced [sʲarˈɣʲej]) is a male given name in Belarus. The diminutive form of this name is Сяргейка (transliteration Siarheika pronounced [sʲarˈɣʲejka]). Σέργιος (transliteration Sergios or Seryios) is the male name of Serge in the Greek language. It is not very well-known although it was being used mostly in the past years.

Llama

The llama (/ˈlɑːmə/; Spanish: [ˈʝama] locally: [ˈʎama] or [ˈʒama]) (Lama glama) is a domesticated South American camelid, widely used as a meat and pack animal by Andean cultures since pre-Hispanic times.

The height of a full-grown, full-size llama is 1.7 to 1.8 m (5.6 to 5.9 ft) tall at the top of the head, and can weigh between 130 and 200 kg (290 and 440 lb). At birth, a baby llama (called a cria) can weigh between 9 and 14 kg (20 and 31 lb). Llamas typically live for 15–25 years, with some individuals surviving 30 years or more.

They are very social animals and live with other llamas as a herd. The wool produced by a llama is very soft and lanolin-free. Llamas are intelligent and can learn simple tasks after a few repetitions. When using a pack, they can carry about 25% to 30% of their body weight for 8–13 km (5–8 miles).

The name llama (in the past also spelled 'lama' or 'glama') was adopted by European settlers from native Peruvians.

Llamas appear to have originated from the central plains of North America about 40 million years ago. They migrated to South America about three million years ago. By the end of the last ice age (10,000–12,000 years ago), camelids were extinct in North America. As of 2007, there were over seven million llamas and alpacas in South America, and due to importation from South America in the late 20th century, there are now over 158,000 llamas and 100,000 alpacas in the United States and Canada.

Llama (band)

Llama was an American alternative rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. Formed by high school friends Ben Brown, Neil Mason, Ben Morton, and Matthew Stewart, they were discovered while playing a concert in a local pizzeria. Then called the Dahlia Llamas, they were signed to a contract with MCA Records and changed their name to Llama while the three original members of the band were still in high school.

History

The band's first album, Close to the Silence, was recorded over two years as the members completed high school. Upon its release in 2001 it garnered critical comparisons to the Dave Matthews Band. Llama spent the majority of 2001 touring with acts as varied as Béla Fleck, O.A.R., and Blueground Undergrass. Their second release, the EP The World from Here, was released in 2002.

Llama broke up in 2003, but the former members are still active in the Nashville music scene. Neil Mason and Ben Brown combined with former members of The Kicks to form the band Bang Bang Bang (later renamed American Bang and signed to Warner Bros. Records). Ben Morton now plays in Nashville-based rock band Cougar Fight; Ian Fitchuk has formed a partnership with fellow musician Justin Loucks, and Adam Binder has toured with Eliot Morris and is currently playing bass in Nashville-based singer-songwriter Jeremy Lister's band.

Llama (disambiguation)

A llama is a South American camelid.

Llama may also refer to:

See also