Noel ( christmas) In Provence : les santons

Today I found (chiner ) perfect things for my new christmas 2008 display :

I found little figures called santons ...

 

I particularly love this one..they all have a name . This one is "le boulanger (baker )

 

here are some of the others santons I found : le pêcheur (fisher ) , le boulanger and le meunier ( miller )

I love these ones becaise they have a lovely patina

Provencal christmas is full of traditions , I'll try to share it with you all along this month.
Today we have planted the seeds of wheat , to have a flourishing year ...

I will show you some pictures

and today is also a special day it is my Dad's birthday ...I have the chance to be abble to celebrate it with him surrounded by most of my family

 

sante , Tchin tchin ....

 

Comments

[Rédigé par : Nihal]

Oh how interesting to know Mélanie: it is birthday of my dear sister today, too: Dec 4th.
*Just wanted to wish a Happiest of Happy Birthday for your father*
I need to go as it's party time for my sister now:)
(( Hugs ))

[Rédigé par : Vicki]

I adored the Santons.....thanks for a wonderful post!!! Happy Birthday to your Dad!!!

[Rédigé par : my castle in spain]

Un très joyeux anniversaire à ton papa, Mélanie !!!...et plein de projets de tapisseries pour la nouvelle année !

je vais suivre avec assiduité tous tes posts de décembre...Noël en Provence, c'est aussi mon enfance... :-)
Merci pour les santons !
et que ce blé nouvellement planté t'apporte bonheur et prospérité..

[Rédigé par : My Melange]

Happy Birthday to your Papa. I love santons and yours a delcious. The baker is just wonderful.

[Rédigé par : Merisi]

Happy belated birthday to your father! :-)

Are those santons being put in a crèche?
Here in Austria they surround the crèche with figures like that.

A Persian friend of mine sprouts wheat for her New Year's celebration, interesting that you do it in France too. I hadn't heard about that costum.

[Rédigé par : Laura Ingalls Gunn]

A big Happy Birthday to your father! I love the santons.

[Rédigé par : M-Noëlle]

Tchin!
...et bon Anniversaire à ce papa !!!

[Rédigé par : Merisi]

I found this interesting site,
http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/noel/angl/santon.htm,
which answered all my questions about santons:

"Originally, the family crèche contained only Nativity figures. ...

Then, in the XVIIIth century, a small industry sprang up in the Midi of France which began to make all the characters for the crèche. The santons really became popular when the Revolution banned Midnight Mass and church crèches. The people of Marseilles were very loyal to their crèches and created "public crèches", produced by individuals who displayed them for visitors. The custom of setting up a crèche in every household thus developed."

[Rédigé par : Elizabeth]

I'm really lloking forward to visiting your provencal Christmas.
The figurines are a delight.

[Rédigé par : vicki archer]

They are really wonderful Santons, Melanie. Have a lovely celebration with your father. xv