My Christmas list #2

Here in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, crib scenes and santon figurines are part of every family’s legacy. Jesus, Mary, Joseph and (to a lesser extent) the ox and donkey, are the essential characters of the somewhat-minimalist presèpi crib scene, originating from Nice. Then again, some scenes feature dozens of characters, scattered throughout a Provencal village complete with a mill, church, well and
bridges… Nothing is set in stone. Sometimes, you’ll even find current-day public figures slipped in among the traditional shepherd, blind man and his son, priest, monk, valet, drummer and mayor. What does matter is that the santons are made of clay and by hand. A moss floor, some olive branches, lights dotted here and there and a few candles – preferably electric – and an entire little world springs to life under the dazzled and amused gaze of children and parents alike.

Calling all amateur artists! At the local santon fairs, you’ll find ready-to-paint figurines made with natural terracotta. Marseille’s Vieux-Port (Old Port) has hosted one every winter for the last 220 years! Numerous other towns have now followed suit: Aubagne, Fontvieille, Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Caderousse, Carpentras, Forcalquier Montagne de Lure, Antibes, Cagnes, Carqueiranne, Grimaud, Théoule-sur-Mer, Ollioules, Signes and Mouans-Sartoux, to name but a few. And our crib scenes get bigger every year! We
hunt down new santons at the local Christmas markets and workshops, where visitors are sometimes invited to watch the figurines  being made, from modelling the plaster mould to the final brushstrokes. The variety of models on offer is impressive, with new characters created every year.