Christmas in Provence and the Toulon Christmas Fair

Whilst Christmas in the UK may half-heartedly begin on December 1, with the opening of the first advent calendar window, in Provence the festive season begins with a lot more zest and ‘official’ enthusiasm, on December 4, when St. Barbe’s Day is celebrated.

Also unlike Britain where the decorations are hastily taken down and Christmas is a vague memory by January 3, in Provence the start of the Christmas period, known in French as the “calendale” is on December 4, and it continues right through December and January until ‘Candlemas Day’ on February 2. Throughout these two months, various rituals, festivities and traditions are upheld and celebrated with a fervour and passion that has remained unaltered for literally centuries.

During the month of December a Christmas fair or markets is put on in every town in Provence. These markets provide a particularly warm, friendly and festive atmosphere, allowing visitors to do their Christmas shopping in the most pleasurable and merry of ambiences. Unique local art and crafts, delicious French gastronomy and some interesting and quirky gifts can be picked up at these wondrous Christmas fair, which typify Provencal customs, cuisine and culture.

The town of Toulon, a picturesque city of ancient fountains, situated to the south of Provence on the Mediterranean coast, is home to a particularly quaint and interesting annual Christmas fair. Each Christmas the Ambassade de Provence organizes Toulon’s town centre Christmas Fair. The market, like Toulon itself and Provence in general, promotes local traditions, with clay figurines from a French nativity play and local gourmet produce such as Provencal Santons, being sold in abundance.

Like most Christmas Fairs in Provence, the Toulon Christmas Fair is free for all the family. For more details about this particularly festive French event visit the Ambassade de Provence official website: http://www.ambassade-de-provence.fr