Traditions for a French Christmas

 

One of the most cherished French traditions for Christmas is putting up the creche, the nativity set.

 

 

 

 

The Provencal creche is similar to North America's nativity scene, except it includes the entire village, not just a handful of shepherds, drummers, angels... The Provencal santons are made of harden clay. They are either painted or dressed. The creche (nativity) includes over fifty santons depicting a Provencal village and their occupations. The santons symbolize the people in the village who brought their gifts of labor to the Christ Child.

 

 

 

 

The first time I saw these little figurines was at the brocante. Instantly I was drawn to the ones that had been around the nativity scene for awhile, the ones that had taken a few tumbles, and looked like they had put in a full days work. You might say perfection was in the idea that they were loved, that a few children along the way had played with them, and that they had been around many more Christmases than I had.

 

 

 

 

 

For example looking at the photo above you can see that they santon has no feet. Her hat has kept the sun off her face, and speaking of faces.... The santon is blind.

L'Aveugle = The Blind Woman, is one of the santons of the traditional French creche = nativity scene.

What is her gift to the Christ Child?

The gift of believing without seeing.

 

 

The Stick Gatherer is this santon's job. Some brought gold to the Christ Child: This santon brought wood for the fire.

On a cold night with no room in the inn, a warm fire would be golden.

 

Some of the characters depicted by Santons include:

Le Berger et son chien = A Shephard and his dog,

La Jardiniere = The Gardener,

Les Vieux = The Old Couple,

Le Tambourinaire = The Drummer,

Le Bucheron = The Woodcutter,

Le Pecheur = The Fisher

La Posissonniere = The Fish Monger....

 

 

A santon depicting a Provencal woman carrying a large basket and a jug. She is bringing the gift of her cooking to the Christ child. The Kings brought gold, frankincense and myrrh... She brought food.

Riches are needed, we cannot deny that money (or gold frankincense, and myrrh) is important. Each of us has a gift to share, and each gift is worth a fortune.

 

 

 

The gift of time, the gift of listening, the gift of standing by someone's side, the gift or being there at the right time. The gift of who we are without fanfare. The gift of knowing what to say...

 

 

 

What gift will you bring today?

...

 

Note:

From Wikipedia:  "Santons (Provençal: "santoun," or "little saint") are small (2.5-15 cm.) hand-painted, terracotta nativity scene figurines produced in the Provence region of southeastern France. In a traditional Provençal crèche, there are 55 individual figures representing various characters from Provençal village life such as the scissors grinder, the fishwife, the blind man, and the chestnut seller.

The first santons were created by Marseillais artisan Jean-Louis Lagnel (1764-1822) during the French Revolution when churches were forcibly closed and their large nativity scenes prohibited. Lagnel crafted small clay figurines in plaster molds and let them dry before firing them.

 

 

A maker of santons is a santonnier, and the creation of santons today is essentially a family craft, handed down from parents to children, Santons are fashioned in two halves, pressed together, and fused. Hats, baskets, and other accessories are applied with an adhesive. When the figure is completely dry, it is given a gelatin bath in order to harden the figure further and to provide a surface for the application of pigments. Faces are painted first, then hair, clothing and accessories. Until the end of the 19th century, santons were air-dried rather than fired in a kiln. As a consequence, such figures were fragile and easily broken. Modern santons are generally fired in a kiln. There are two types of santons: santons d'argile (clay figures), and doll-like santons habillé (clothed figures).

 

 

 

Since 1803, santonniers have gathered in Marseille each December to display and sell their wares at the Foire des Santonniers. Aubagne holds a two-day fair, Biennale de l'Art Santonnier, and the Musée du Santon in Marseille exhibits a private collection of 18th and 19th century santons."

 

 

Comments

[Cy Todd]

I just bought a Provencal "creche" for my santons yesterday!! It's got a stable for the Holy Family and blue Provencal shutters on the barn windows! I am soooo excited!! Thanks for this interesting post! And Merry Christmas from Cagnes-sur-mer!! Love, Cy

[BrittArnhild]

Thank you for this post Corey with the beautiful old santons. My Provencal creche with new santons is up and spreads beauty as it does every year in December.

[Paulita]

Do you think bossing people around is a gift? That's what I'm bringing today as I work at a swim meet in charge of the other parents who are timing. Hmm. Maybe I'll need to find a way to reword that "gift."

[Casual Cottage Chic]

Corey, I have several porcelain "santons" that I purchased from you last year. Are they "santons" or just figures of French people? I love your collection!!

[RebeccaNYC]

I have several santons d'argile that I bought many years ago. I have Jesus, Mary and Joseph, a woman on a ladder with a basket of olives and two men with baskets full of lavender. I would bring the gift of song and some lavender because I love it so much. And everyone likes the nursery to smell good...right?

[georgie]

A dear friend gave me some clay Provencal santons a few years ago and they are on display with the thrift shop nativity figurines (identical to the ones of my childhood). Old and new traditions in one arrangement, all with the same message.

[Kathie B]

Last year author Daniel de Sá (of the island of São Miguel) wrote a delightful short-short story in Portuguese about an Azorean peasant crèche, which he posted on his blog, "O Espólio," and which the Azores government's Comunidades office (for us members of the Azores overseas communities) selected to post on its website.

I found de Sá's story so engaging that, with assistance from my Portuguese professor, I quickly translated it into English. Daniel promptly posted it on his blog and it was also published on the Comunidades website. For those who might wish to read it, our translation is available on-line at:

http://oespolio.blogspot.com/2010/12/one-legged-shepherd.html
&
http://ww1.rtp.pt/icmblogs/rtp/comunidades/?k=Daniel-de-Sa-%96-O-Pastor-Manco--The-One-Legged-Shepherd----Translated-by-Katharine-F-Baker--Bobby-J-Chamberlain.rtp&post=29668

I hope you enjoy it.

[Kathie B]

P.S. Here are the links to the Portuguese original (with photo, for those so inclined:

http://oespolio.blogspot.com/2010/12/o-pastor-manco.html
&
http://ww1.rtp.pt/icmblogs/rtp/comunidades/?k=O-Pastor-Manco---Daniel-de-Sa.rtp&post=29669

BTW, the Portuguese word for crèche or Nativity scene is "presépio."

[Debra]

C, I would love a few of these figures to add to my nativity - thanks for a very interesting post. xo

[marlis]

To think there isn't one santon in this house!! Santos, yes.. oh my. I must fix that Thank you so much for this post. I remember these well. Bless you Corey. Today, I'm bringing the gift of an open home and good food (including a buche de noel)to our friends! xo marlis

[Kathie B]

Here's another image of an Azorean presépio, to compare/contrast with French figures:
http://www.rtp.pt/icmblogs/rtp/comunidades/index.php?k=Era-uma-vez-o-%93Dia-das-Montras%94----Joao-Luis-de-Medeiros.rtp&post=37130

[Zosia]

A lovely tradition. Thank you for the story.
The gift I will bring this year is understanding.

[Marilyn]

Love that all the other people are included with the santons. What pure Delight!

[cynthia wolff]

I can easily see how easy it would be to get hooked at collecting santons. Each one is so different and charming in its own ways. I loved the blind lady on the donkey.

[TEXAS FRANCOPHILE]

Everytime I travel to Provence I pick up a couple of santons. I don't have a creche.
So I assume mine are just village people. I love love the detail on their faces. Thank you
For sharing this story. Hope you and your family are doing as well as can b expected.
Xoxo FrAnco

[Annie v.]

have had a creche made of santons since I was 12, a long long time ago!!! all of them made of terre cuite one of them is a priest mopping his brow wih a plaid handkerchief , always wondered why, is he overwhelmed byt he birth of Christ? or is just hot being in Provence!!!In all a lovely custom.

[Marie-Noëlle]

My santons come from Maison Grataloup, in Cabris (Provence). I've bought them from "Ange Michel", in Lyon, a religious shop I really enjoy !!!
http://www.ange-michel.com

My crib has grown a little through the last years. No colours.
I stick to the traditional characters. I'm very proud of it !
Thank you for this post...

[Nancy]

I am a day late to read this Corey but I must tell you how much I admire these tiny villagers..their gifts are priceless..thank you for teaching me about this..I think my gift would be learning patience..

[Karen C]

I absolutely adore this tradition. How I long to have some santons for my own creche.
Each gift is precious and they are so humbly portrayed in these little figures.
My gift? It would have to be carelessly forgetting then humbly remembering my blessings. Again, and again and again.
I never tire of your posts on this subject, Corey. Thank you.