origins of name Cissou

[Clare H]

In Pennac again, there is a character called Cissou... (Cissou la neige, in fact, it's his nickname) Is this a North African name originally or French, does anyone know? Thanks again!

[Erwan]

I don't know where the name Cissou come from. I can't find anything in my researches. The only thing I can say is that his nickname come from drugs and not from snow (but you probably already know that).

[Clare H]

Thanks for looking... I also have drawn a complete blank with Cissou, although yes I knew about the drugs link. I was just trying to decide whether or not to keep Cissou in my translation... if it was French I might not, but if it was eg Moroccan I might... anyway I have to submit it tomorrow so will make a decision. Thanks again!

[Erwan]

May be Cissou comes from six sous.

Sous was a very old French currency. But it still exists in the daily language and refers to the money.

It's really not sure but I've found an Italian wikipedia page about the Malaussène cycle and Cissou la neige was called Six La Neve (Six The Snow in English). It's perhaps a free interpretation or a lead to follow...

Good luck with your translation.

[Clare H]

Thanks that is interesting. I ended up calling him Cissou the Snowman!! which may sound crazy but snowman is apparently slang for drug dealer/user, which is appopriate in the novel, and I quite liked the comic side of it with Pennac's style in mind. I kept Cissou as a nod to his non-English origins, but not sure it really works. Thanks for your info! Clare