I love that the French version of "Merry Christmas" includes the word JOY. Yes, that is the essence of this season.
The baby in the manger is Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us. That changes everything.
Unique regional flavors characterize Christmas celebrations everywhere. Join me for a brief tour celebrating this festive season here in the Cévennes.
Santons- "little saints" in the occitan dialect
Throughout the Cévennes and Provence, homes and churches set up the crèche, a nativity scene depicting the birth of Jesus. Using small terracotta figurines, these installations include various village locales and trades. I recently wandered into our little town's Foire aux Santons, featuring multiple artisans and their handicrafts.
Left: Laverie (outdoor laundry area); Center: wine cave, moulin and chapel above; Right: boulangerie
These are just a few examples out of many, some more refined, some more rustic.
Protestant church
Various village scenes
Left: woman hanging laundry; Center: the grinder; Right: grape stomper. . . I want to do that!
As you can see by the prices, these handmade items are not inexpensive. People tend to collect them over the years. One local friend bought a few new pieces every Christmas when her children were young. She purchased the unpainted version which the family enjoyed finishing together.
These scenes are often displayed on a whole tabletop covered with a special brown paper crinkled into hills and mountains and with bits of wild plants added in for trees, etc.
Our local Catholic church sets up a wonderful crèche every year. When I popped in at the end of the day to take these photos, the kind woman who'd been arranging flowers waited for me before closing up. When I complimented the scene, she said how important it was to feature the true part of the "story", the birth of Jesus. I heartily agreed.
You'll notice there's no babe in the manger. Yet. He arrives Christmas Eve. Most households, Catholic or Protestant, observe this tradition in our region.
Interestingly, the tradition of setting up a crèche at home started with the French revolution. When the state seized control and closed the churches and outlawed religion. The profoundly religious people began setting up these homemade crèches, in hiding. For extra protection, they included town scenes, villagers, artisans, and tradespeople, with Mary, Joseph, shepherds, kings, and Jesus embedded among them all. Wonderful!
Recently, our little town, St. Hippolyte du Fort, hosted an all day Marché de Noël. I love this event and all the festivities that go with it. Not fancy like the Christmas markets in the eastern part of France and on into Switzerland and Germany, ours definitely has a local flavor.
Enjoy!
Homemade decorations, delicious saucissons, and exotic lamp ware...something for everyone
Our association, Jeunesse en Mission, Ponts de Vie (Youth With A Mission, Bridges of Life), partnered with a local church and handed out goodie bags to celebrate the JOY of Jesus' birth.
Hot spiced cider is a novelty to the French! While many other stands served mulled wine, we were the only option sans alcohol. Delicious!
Celebration, and all that it includes, is such a gift. For those who are far from family and for those who are suffering, I say a special prayer. May the revelation of the true meaning of CHRISTmas sustain and comfort you.
JOY to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her king
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing
La vie est belle. . .
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