What would Christmas in Marseille be without the Foire aux Santons et aux crèches? A tradition dating back to 1803, it continues to attract hundreds of thousands of visitorsevery year . From the most traditional to the most modern, santons fascinate as much as they arouse curiosity. Join us at the Vieux-Port from Saturday November 15 until January 4 to celebrate this beautiful Provencal tradition, which could one day be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
223rd edition: workshops, traditions and dedications
It’s one of the most eagerly awaited events of the year in Marseille, and it’s finally back! The 223ᵉ edition of the Foire aux santons takes place at the Vieux-Port, where 21 santonniers will present their creations. Contemporary scenes of life, unusual or more traditional santons will fill young and old with wonder at the heart of this open market, where every chalet holds its own discovery.
For an even more festive and convivial atmosphere, the Fair offers a program for the whole family. Don’t miss the workshops every Wednesday, where children can make a santon and leave with their creation. Folk music groups will liven up the market on Wednesdays and weekends, while Santa Claus will be on hand every day to receive children’s letters. Finally, visitors will be able to buy and have signed the Marcel Pagnol comic strip , thanks to the regular presence of the authors.
Santons: a Provencal tradition going back centuries
Small statuettes carved with the image of the nativity originated in the Middle Ages, well before the first live nativity scene was staged by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223. Introduced to Provence by the Franciscans as early as the XIIIᵉ century, the santon tradition was strengthened in the XVIIIᵉ century when the people of Marseilles, deprived of church cribs during the Revolution, created their own domestic cribs.
In 1798, Louis Lagnel invents plaster molds that make “santons d’un sou” accessible to all. The XIXᵉ century saw the rise of master santonniers, who fashioned the emblematic figures of Provence. The same santons are still on display today at the Foire aux Santons de Marseille, the oldest Santon fair in France.
From tradition to modernity
While master santon-makers preserve a precious know-how steeped in tradition, they also shape their clay figurines in the image of society. So, alongside the traditional nativity figures, village inhabitants and trades of yesteryear, more unusual santons appear every year. These include santons bearing the effigy of Didier Raoult, the Porteur de Flamme and Bernard Tapie, not forgetting the recent tribute to actor Michel Blanc with the creation of a “Jean-Claude Dusse” santon. A way for craftsmen to renew the Provencal crib while recounting today’s world with humor and creativity.