©Santons 2023 exhibition at Sainte-Marie de l'Assomption cathedral|Dorian VENZI

Around Christmas

The spirit of Provencal traditions in Vaison Ventoux Provence

Christmas in Vaison Ventoux Provence is much more than just a celebration: it’s a journey to the heart of Provençal traditions. From the beginning of December until Epiphany, every moment is marked by convivial events and ancestral Provencal rituals that warm hearts and rekindle the spirit of sharing. Heritage and tradition combine to create a magical, authentic atmosphere.

The time for crèches has arrived...

Nativity scenes are an integral part of Christmas culture in Provence. The santons are a real emblem of Provence and a source of pride!

The stable is placed at the centre of the cot to represent rural life around the nativity scene. The cot also features shepherds, animals and traditional trades, set against a Provencal landscape of hills, rivers and bridges. The decorations embellish the cot with a little moss, branches, foliage, vine shoots, small pebbles, rosemary, a few olive branches… and a star overhangs the cot, like the star that watches over the village of Séguret!

While we wait for 24 December to place the baby Jesus and the Epiphany on the first Sunday in January to place the Three Wise Men, the pots prepared on Saint Barbara’s Day take their place next to the cot, waiting to be placed on the Christmas table…

Special highlights: At the end of November, Vaison-la-Romaine welcomes santonniers and créchistes for a weekend at the Salon des Santonnales! And from the end of November until Candlemas, the Vaison Ventoux Provence Tourist Office is hosting a cot of local santon makers: free admission and no moderation!

©Exhibition Creche Seguret 06 Rotated|Sophie Augier

©Ble Sainte Barbe Salon Santonnales|Laure Garrido

The feast of Saint Barbara, celebrated on 4 December, marks the start of preparations for Christmas…

On this day, it is customary to sprout hope wheat or other grains such as lentils, chickpeas or maize in a saucer, so that they produce beautiful greenery, a sign of renewal, happiness, health and prosperity!

Did you know? This tradition stems from the ancient practices of the cult of Demeter, which sought to hasten the return of the fine weather.

Nativity scenes are in the spotlight, with exhibitions on display throughout the year at the santonniers in Vaison Ventoux Provence.

Véronique Dornier from Brantes, with her famous blue santons, and Denis Vœux from Séguret invite you to discover their creations and their true expertise!

Nativity scenes and calendar traditionsExhibitionVaison-la-Romaine

©Exhibition Creche Seguret 02 Rotated|Sophie Augier

Nativity scenes and Provençal traditionsExhibitionSéguret

OTI Vaison Ventoux Provence team — ©Sophie AUGIER - Welcome, Web and Terroir/Wine referent

What a pleasure it is to pass on these traditions to my children to decorate the Christmas tree and make the cot. We go to the edge of the woods to collect a bit of moss, branches, foliage etc. and on the way back, we collect vine shoots, small stones, rosemary and a few olive branches.

All in all, it was a great time of sharing, with lots of fun and good humour, all set to a background of Christmas music and, of course, sweets.

Sophie

©Christmas in Vaison Ventoux Provence - Buisson|Dorian VENZI

©Noël en Vaison Ventoux Provence - Villedieu|Dorian VENZI

Midnight Mass and the "Cacho-Fio

These two rituals add a traditional Provencal dimension and embody the spirit of Christmas in Vaison Ventoux Provence. This deep attachment to customs creates a unique link between past and present.

Midnight Mass is a central part of the Christmas festivities. It traditionally takes place on the night of 24 December to 25 December. In Vaison Ventoux Provence, the churches welcome the faithful and visitors for a celebration marked by solemnity and fervour. A mass unique to Provence, where Provençal songs and nativity scenes, some of them alive, add an extra touch of emotion…

In the village of Séguret, traditions live on with its famous ” Li Bergie ” living cot, performed every year since the 16th century by the villagers. These are moments of conviviality where the spirit of sharing is strengthened. This year, the living nativity scene will take place on Traditions Day, 21 December 2025.

Mass times

©Creche Vivante Seguret|Champetier Thibault

©Creche Vivante Villageois Seguret|Les amis de Séguret

Cacho Fio symbolises the blessing of the house and its inhabitants for the coming year. This tradition involves lighting a log in the hearth. The log comes from a fruit tree such as a cherry or apricot. The trunk is carried by the oldest and youngest members of the family, symbolising the passing down of generations.

The log is left to burn slowly throughout the evening, sometimes into the New Year, as a sign of prosperity. Boiled wine or new oil is poured over it as the following words are spoken:

“Allègre! Allègre ! God make us merry! Cacho-fio ven, tout ven ebn, Dieu nous fague la graci de voir l’an que ven. Se sian pas mal fuguen pas mens. Que nous baïo proun bla e proun farino de vin uno pleno tino!”

“Allegresse! Allegresse! Dieu nous réjouisse ! Cacho-fio is coming, all is well. God grant us the grace to see the coming year. If we are not more, let us not be less. May he give us enough wheat and enough flour and a full vat of wine!”

The Epiphany

On the first Sunday in January, the season of kings takes place… The Three Wise Men are placed in the cot, and the shop windows of the bakers and confectioners of Vaison Ventoux Provence are decked out with their finest cakes, from frangipane to brioche in the shape of a crown decorated with candied fruit: melon, cherries, apricots, plums or slices of orange. These shiny fruits represent the offerings made by the Three Wise Men to the Infant Jesus.

Galettes des rois are eaten fromEpiphany to Candlemas!

It is traditional to share these cakes and to place the smallest member of the family under the table so that he or she can allocate the cakes to the other members of the family without favouritism. The person who finds the bean is crowned and, above all, must offer the next galette!

Did you know? In Provence, people were known as “grinchous” (stingy) if they didn’t hesitate to swallow the bean so as not to have to buy the next one… and it’s perhaps for this reason that the edible bean was replaced by a porcelain bean, which is harder to digest!

©Epiphany Galette Des Rois|Pâtisserie Peyrerol

The choice is yours!

Christmas time in Rome...

If our Christmas traditions in Provence are so rich, it’s perhaps because they have their roots in antiquity… At that time, the Romans celebrated the end of the year with the famous Saturnalia: a week of festivities marking a moment out of time. These festivities, which took place at the end of December, upset the social order because slaves enjoyed a degree of freedom. Known as the Saturnalia, they were a time of festivities, with abundant feasting, gift-giving and games of dice and chance!

In those days, sweet treats were already being offered to friends and neighbours, accompanied by warm wishes and homemade gifts. It was a time for sharing, with everyone going from house to house… As for the houses, they were adorned with garlands of green foliage and little hanging wax figures. All the magic of Christmas was already in place, and the festivities often lasted until the beginning of January, when it was time for New Year’s gifts, prolonging this time of conviviality and generosity.

Stay In Vaison Ventoux Provence

Do you dream of experiencing and sharing the traditions of Provence around Christmas? Vaison Ventoux Provence is the ideal destination! To make your stay as easy as possible, we’ve selected a range of accommodation, gourmet addresses and a host of not-to-be-missed activities. Organise your visit now, with complete peace of mind!