Travelling Provence France

French Christmas Noel

The Christmas season in Provence begins on the 4th of December, the day of Sainte Barbe. Wheat and lentil seeds are sown in small dishes. These should make fresh green shoots by Christmas Eve, when they are used as table decorations, with ribbon wrapped around the leggy green spouts. They symbolise a good harvest and perfect weather for the new year.

Traditionally, figurines, called Santons (little saints), are sculpted of wood, clay or pastry and carefully dressed or painted to represent various traditional professions, such as the baker, the fishmonger, the wine merchant, the simpleton, ravi and the shepherd, with a sheep over his shoulders. Also represented are farm animals and the biblical characters of the three kings (which only go into the crèche at Epiphany), and Joseph and Mary. Santons appeared for the first time at the Christmas fair in Marseille in 1803, and fast became popular.

The Christmas crib, or crèche is an important decoration, traditional to the region from as early as the 17th century, though some rumours have it that, in 1223, St Francis of Assisi made the first memorial crib, sparking a tradition in Italy and Southern France.

According to legend, Jesus was born in Provence and the crèche represents the village at the time of his birth. Traditionally, the crèche would be decorated with moss, bark, pine cones, stones and thyme collected from the country, but these days, there are markets, selling ready made Santons and crèches. Read more