CHRISTMAS

Tradition

Sainte Barbe's corn / LOU BLAD DE SANTO BARBO

Lou blad de santo Barbo que pèr aquèu jour si gardo
A taulo fau lou bouta mai aco’s un pla per arregarda.
(“Whoever is at the table must put the corn, but it’s a dish to be looked at”). According to an old Provencal tradition, every year on 4 December (Saint Barbe's Day), corn or lentils are sown in a dish or saucer, representing the harvest and fertility.
The number of dishes must be one, three, or multiples of three, and are brought out to decorate the table for the gros souper, (main Christmas meal on Christmas Eve) and are kept until Candlemas.
If the corn sprouts and is green, it will be a granado year.

Midnight Mass / LA MESSO DE MIEJE NIUE

Before the Gregorian calendar made 21 December the winter solstice, Saint Luce's Day (13 December) was the shortest day of the year.

Midnight Mass / LA MESSO DE MIEJE NIUE

Christmas is also the lambing season, and in Provence, before the mass there is pastrage, a ceremony during which the best ewe and lamb are chosen by the shepherd. During midnight mass and the shepherds' procession, a perfectly white, spotless newborn lamb is presented at the altar as an offering.

The Christmas Dinner / LOU GROS SOUPA

Traditionally, the whole family - including the servants - gathered for this meal. It began early, after the Cacho-Fio ceremony and lasted until everyone left for midnight mass.
The meal was frugal:
The table was covered with three cloths and three candlesticks symbolizing the mystery of the Holy Trinity; at each end of the table are the dishes of corn for Saint Barbe, while in the middle was the pain calendal or Provencal Christmas loaf which is broken and shared among every member of the household, including the animals, with a quarter set aside for the poor: (God's part). Twelve small bread rolls represent Jesus and the apostles.
The decoration is completed by sprigs of holly.

The Thirteen desserts / LI TREGE DESSERT

After midnight mass, thirteen traditional desserts are served: pompe à l'huile (a kind of sweet round pastry, also called fougasse or gibassié), white and black nougat, pears, apples, dates, plums, withered sorb apples or oranges, and four types of mendiant (cakes made of dried figs, raisins, almonds, and hazelnuts or walnuts, representing the habits of the different monastic orders: Carmelites, Franciscans, Dominicans, and Augustines).
In the towns, the baker would give customers a free pompe à l'huile while the wine merchant would treat his customers to a bottle of Palette fortified wine.

Cacho-Fio

This ceremony takes place before the Christmas supper and involves throwing a fruit tree onto a bonfire. The oldest member of the family pours fortified wine over the flames three times, in front of the rest of the family, and says the sacramental words:
Alègre ! Alègre! Dièu nous alègre! Calendo vèn, tout bèn vèn; Dièu nous faguè la graci de veire l'an que vèn, e se noun sian pas mai, que nous fuguèn pas mens. (Meaning: "Jubilation! Jubilation! May the Lord fill us with jubilation! And even if next year, we are not more joyful, let us not be less so!"
The bonfire burns for three days.

Christmas / CALENDO

In the night, Baby Jesus brings toys. After the rather meagre meal on Christmas Eve, there is a more sumptuous feast at lunchtime on Christmas Day. It is also the time when people remember their ancestors.

Saint Etienne / SANT ESTEVE

For the third and final day of festivities, godfathers and godmothers give baby Jesus-shaped cakes to their godchildren.

Saint Sylvester's Day / SANT SIVESTRE

New Year's Eve celebrations.

New Year / BONO ANNADO

On New Year's Day, the youngest members of the family visit the eldest and wish them Bono Annado bèn granado e acounpagnado de santa, bounur e pas! ("Happy New Year, best wishes, good health, happiness and peace") Cherries in aquavit are served and presents are exchanged.

Epiphany / LA FESTO DI REI

On 6 January Christians celebrate the revelation to the Gentiles of Christ as the Saviour. In the morning, the Three Wise Men are added to the nativity scene. Afterwards the traditional candied fruitcake is served (containing the fève or lucky charm).
The Three Wise Men: there's old Balthazar, with his long hair, dressed as King of France, who brings myrrh, the symbol of knowledge; Caspar is the young, clean-shaven Moor wearing a turban and baggy trousers, who offers incense as a reflection of Jesus' divine power; last of all is Melchior, the eldest of the three, with his long white beard, kneeling beside the infant Jesus with a gift of gold.

Candlemas / LA CANDELOUSO

On 2 February, it's time to dismantle the Christmas crib. Locals attend the blessing of the fire and the procession of the black virgin at the Abbey of Saint Victor. Green wax candles are lit to protect the home and navettes (biscuits in the shape of Saint Mary's boat) are served.