Literal translation
Saint Stephen, may whoever planted you lift you
Meaning
a formula used to tell someone to get up
Explanation
This formula is addressed mockingly to someone sitting or standing still without moving, inviting them to get up. Literally, the phrase plays on a pun between planta (to plant, to root) and lève (leva, to lift): Saint Stephen, may whoever planted you lift you, as though inviting a rooted plant to uproot itself. The choice of Saint Stephen (Esteve) likely owes more to a popular rhyme built on his name than to any direct link with his cult or legend, a common device in playful Provençal formulas pairing a saint's name with a convenient rhyme. The register is familiar, teasing, and good natured, used among family or friends to poke fun at someone a little lazy or too settled in their seat. The formula belongs to the wide repertoire of rhymed Provençal sayings, where the sound play often outweighs the strict literal sense.