Regarding the feast of St Fiacre--the French word "fiacre" came to refer (by
the 18th century anyway) to a type of carriage that was often run for hire
in Paris. This might well explain the taxi driver connection. Given the
Gallic proclivity for naming objects for a pseudo-place of origin (e.g., any
dish of food conspicuously containing carrots is properly called "a la Crecy"
because Crecy is as well-known for its carrots as for Edward III's victory),
it's possible that this type of carriage originated, or was manufactured, at
St-Fiacre-en-Brie.
Nailing this down would naturally take some research though. Are
there any details in Fiacre's vita or legend (with which I am utterly
unfamiliar) that would possibly connect with a journey by cart or carriage?
John Parsons
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