Spend That Quiet Holiday Christmas In Provence
The festivities of Christmas in Provence start very early
, from the fourth of December and through to the sixth of January. The entire month of December is a very special time to be in Provence, France. People from all over the world are drawn to this area to be part of the famous Provencal Christmas traditions that have been handed down from generations past. For many this is the true Christmas spirit and it is truly symbolic of the birth of Jesus. During this season the natives are brought together by the traditional festivities and truly there is a spirit of love and generosity during this time.
On the 4th of December the Feast of St. Barbe is celebrated to signify the start of Christmas in Provence. On this day the local people plant wheat and lentils in small containers filled with wet cotton wool and on the 24th the sprouts are embellished with ribbons. According to traditional beliefs, if the sprouts grow green, straight and tall, the coming year will be a prosperous one. These grains are used to symbolize good harvests and good weather in the coming year.
After the Feast and onto Christmas Eve, the Provencaux are engaged in shopping and cooking for the festivities. Shopping is done at Christmas Markets which is a place with stalls that look like log cabins. Most if not all stalls sell local arts, crafts and traditional fare/foods. Though Christmas in Provence is still celebrated by eating conventional Christmas dishes such as Turkey, Foie Gras and Game Hens (Goose), there are indeed other Provencal foods which form the basis of Christmas. On Christmas Eve there is the Gros Souper (Big Supper) which is a traditional meatless meal taken before the Midnight Mass. This meal is also graced with the widely known les Treize Deserts (Thirteen Deserts).
Many if not all villagers and visitors attend the Midnight Mass at various village churches. The Pastorale which is a play of the Nativity/Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ is orchestrated by the village people dressed in traditional Provencal costumes. Tourists celebrating Christmas in Provence can attend the Midnight Mass and Pastorale at Seguret. The Christmas day mass is also celebrated at the Chapel of St. Roch. On New Years Eve the festivity of St. Sylvestre is celebrated among family and friends. On the 6th of January the Feast of the Three Kings is celebrated to mark the day when the three Kings found Baby Jesus.
Throughout the festivities and activities that mark Christmas in Provence, this area remains a place where family and friends meet to celebrate the joys of the Christmas and generally have a nice quiet time away from the bustles of the world.
http://blog.sablethome.com/by: Richard bacon
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