The festivities of Christmas in Provence commence especially early, from the fourth of December and via to the sixth of January. The whole month of December is a really special time to be in Provence, France. Individuals from all over the world are drawn to this region to be component of the well-known Provencal Christmas traditions that have been handed down from generations past. For several this is the true Christmas spirit and it is really symbolic of the birth of Jesus. Throughout this season the natives are brought together by the conventional festivities and genuinely there is a spirit of love and generosity Throughout this time.
On the 4th of December the Feast of St. Barbe is celebrated to signify the commence of Christmas in Provence. On this day the local Men and women plant wheat and lentils in tiny containers filled with wet cotton wool and on the 24th the sprouts are embellished with ribbons. According to conventional beliefs, if the sprouts grow green, straight and tall, the coming year will be a prosperous one. These grains are employed to symbolize excellent harvests and very 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 performed at Christmas Markets which is a location with stalls that look like log cabins. Most if not all stalls sell local arts, crafts and standard fare/foods. Though Christmas in Provence is still celebrated by eating standard 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 (Massive Supper) which is a conventional meatless meal taken just before the Midnight Mass. This meal is also graced with the widely identified les Treize Deserts (Thirteen Deserts).
A number of if not all villagers and visitors attend the Midnight Mass at many different village churches. The “Pastorale” which is a play of the Nativity/Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ is orchestrated by the village Individuals dressed in standard 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 Year’s Eve the festivity of St. Sylvestre is celebrated among family and pals. On the 6th of January the Feast of the 3 Kings is celebrated to mark the day when the 3 Kings discovered Baby Jesus.
During the festivities and activities that mark Christmas in Provence, this region remains a location where family and pals meet to celebrate the joys of the Christmas and usually have a nice quiet time away from the bustles of the world.
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