Provençal crèche
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A Provencal crib or Provençal crèche is a Christmas crib comprising traditional characters from Provence, the santons (small saints in Provençal) and inspired by local life and whose invention dates from the eighteenth century.
The crib is set up shortly before Christmas to be undone until early February, at Candlemas. Each is distinguished by the choice of its figurines, the accessories used representations of village houses, and the variety of vegetation chosen (moss, lichen, holly, pine branches, etc.).
To harmonize the Christmas crib and simulate the perspective, santons of different sizes are used. The largest are placed in the front, it is traditionally the shepherd and his flock, which will then be joined by the three wise men. The chip santons are placed at the bottom of the crib representing the distance. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, after the Concordat of 1802, traditional cribs regained their place in cities, especially with the arrival of Provencal cribs and their santons (small characters representing all trades in the local costume of fairly naive expression. The municipality of Paris has often given pride of place to this type of nursery school in various places in the capital, in particular on the forecourt of the Place de l'Hotel de Ville before the green space bordered by traffic lanes that previously existed in front of the facade of the building becomes the current tarmac square.[1][2]
Origins[edit]
First accounts of Christmas cribs in Provence appeared at the beginning of the 17th century during the Counter-Reformation. The tradition is linked to Italy by the Oratorians. Domestic cribs appeared at the end of the 18th century in the form of niches or glazed boxes presenting the nativity surrounded by holy figures, the "chapel".
After the French revolution, this chapel evolved into a domestic crib as it is known nowadays, mainly thanks to the invention by Jean-Louis Lagnel (1764-1822) of the raw clay santon, molded in series. Initially limited to the city of Marseille and its surroundings, this domestic crib gradually spread in Provence, whereas until then the crib only appeared in churches
Provençal crèche of Avignon[edit]
The Provençal crèche of Avignon is exceptional due to its surface area of 54m^2. Each year the crèche aims to create a unique provençal landscape with hills, gorges, vineyards, lavender fields, olive groves, hill top villages, rivers and cascades. Over 600 santons converge near the nativity scene. The crèche is exhibited in the hotel of Avignon city from the end of November to the start of January. It is created by the atelier Marcel Carbonel.
Provençal crèche of Grignan[edit]
The Provençal crèche of Grignan is considered the biggest in the world. The village is composed of over eighty five houses created with the same building materials used in the region (stone, wood, cement).
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ Gallic, Girl Gone (20 December 2014). "The Provençal Crèche - A Christmas Nativity Scene". Girl Gone Gallic. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ↑ "The Provençal crèche". Chris and Alison's blog. 5 December 2015.
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