By François-Joseph Ambroselli
This article is taken from the Figaro Hors-Série "Eternal Provence, French Tuscany". Discover the centuries-old history of Provence, its Roman cities, its hilltop villages, its abbeys, its castles, its vineyards, its living traditions.
Le Figaro
"Clay is in the hands of the santonnier what man is in the hands of God", wrote Frédéric Mistral. This has been true in the cribs of families in France for over two hundred years: shepherds, fishermen, beggars, grinders, washerwomen, ragpickers, the santons of Provence form a people of "low-income" who come alive on Christmas Eve. . On their way to the stable of the divine child, they are “bearers of offerings” who come to deposit the fruit of their labor in front of the manger.
Read also: The santons of Provence claim their origin
As surprising as it may seem, the French Revolution and its supporters precipitated the advent of the family crèche in Provence. In December 1793, when "dechristianization" was in full swing,
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