Grand Avignon, where the magic of Christmas blends with Provençal traditions to create unforgettable moments. During this festive season, Christmas markets and local customs come to life, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere. Dive with us into the enchanting world of Christmas markets and discover the traditions that make our region so rich.
Christmas Markets in Grand Avignon
On Christmas markets in Provence are a must-see during the holiday season, offering a festive atmosphere with stalls selling crafts, local products, and gourmet specialties. Visitors can meet Santa Claus, watch shows, and participate in activities with family and friends.
Explore our selection of Christmas markets Grand Avignon to experience the magic of the holidays:
1
from December 16 to 20
The Christmas market Villeneuve lez Avignon
Le Villeneuve-lès-Avignon Christmas Market, organized by the residents of the Mas de Carles, offers a selection of local handcrafted products. Visitors can also enjoy entertainment for young and old, creating a festive and friendly atmosphere ideal for the end-of-year celebrations. A perfect place to discover original creations and spend a pleasant time with family.
2
on December 7
The Vedène Christmas Market
Enjoy a Christmas market selling crafts and gourmet treats, meet Santa Claus and mascots, and take a horse-drawn carriage ride. Children can enjoy face painting sessions.
Come listen to Christmas carols performed by the Chœur Ensemble choir, admire the dance performances of Soleil Percu and let yourself be amazed by the great magical and luminous parade.
03
December 14 and 15
The Magic of Christmas in Morières-lès-Avignon
The Magic of Christmas returns to Espace Folard to offer you a magical weekend. Throughout these two festive days, you can enjoy numerous activities. Children and teenagers will be delighted to participate in an escape game specially designed for them, while craft enthusiasts can try their hand at various Christmas-themed craft workshops, such as card making, decorations, and even pottery. The face painting booth and balloon sculptures will add a touch of fantasy.
04
on December 20
The Christmas market at Château de Fargues, in Le Pontet
The Le Pontet Christmas market is a must-see family event. Come stroll around, prepare for the holiday season, and marvel at the many activities on offer. Highlights include the Santa Claus and Mickey Mouse parade, as well as the spectacular mapping on the facade of the Château de Fargues. This year, the market will also feature the Le Pontet centenary celebrations, followed by a toy factory, to the delight of young and old alike.
Christmas in Provence
Provençal Christmas traditions
In Provence, the Christmas period is marked by rich and warm traditions that reflect the soul and culture of this region. The festivities often begin with the installation of the nativity scene, where the santons, small clay figurines, are placed to represent the Nativity and scenes from daily life. Each home has its own nativity scene, carefully decorated and often passed down from generation to generation.
Nativity scenes and santons
These Christmas traditions in Provence are the expression of a living culture and a deep attachment to the values of sharing, conviviality and respect for ancestral customs, making this time of year particularly magical and memorable.
The origins of this traditional date back to the French Revolution, when churches were closed and large nativity scenes were banned. Residents then began to create smaller, more intimate nurseries at home, using homemade figurines to represent the Nativity. Over time, these santons evolved to include not only the traditional figures of the Holy Family, shepherds, and the Three Wise Men, but also a multitude of local characters : the baker, the fisherman, the washerwoman, the ravish (a happy and somewhat simple character who expresses the joy of the Nativity), and many others.
Santons, a Provençal tradition Deeply rooted in the history and hearts of the inhabitants, are small clay figurines that come to life every Christmas in the nativity scenes of Provence. The word “santon” comes from the Provençal “santoun,” which means “little saint.” These miniature figures represent not only the scenes of the Nativity, but also the professions and scenes of daily life in Provence.
Every year, the santonniers – the artisans who make these figurines – exhibit and sell their creations at marchés de Noël and santon fairsThese artisans use techniques passed down from generation to generation, molding and painting each figurine with care and attention to detail, to perpetuate this unique tradition.
In the Grand Avignon, we invite you to discover those of Saint-Saturnin-lès-Avignon and that ofAvignon !
The Big Supper and the Thirteen Desserts
The Big Supper, a lean but hearty meal, marks Christmas Eve. Traditionally composed of vegetable dishes, fish and pastries, it precedes Midnight Mass. After Mass, families gather around the Thirteen Desserts, a symbolic custom that represents Jesus and the twelve apostles. These desserts include dried fruits, nougats, candied fruits, and other local sweets.
This year in Vedène, the Lou Pont de Garanço association invites you to bring sweets and treats to share together in a friendly moment during their “Afternoon of 13 desserts” event.
Other Provençal traditions: Sainte Barbe wheat and the king cake!
Saint Barbara's Wheat
The tradition of “Saint Barbara’s wheat” is deeply rooted in Provence and is celebrated on December 4, the feast day of Saint Barbara. This custom involves planting wheat seeds (or sometimes lentils) in three bowls to make them germinate. Saint Barbara’s wheat symbolizes prosperity and abundance for the coming year.
The kings' cake
The tradition of the “galette des rois” in Provence is a rich and festive custom, celebrated mainly during Epiphany, on January 6.
In Provence, we mainly find two types of pancakes:
- Puff pastry galette with frangipane: More common in the north of France, it is made from puff pastry and filled with almond cream.
- The brioche king cake: Typical of Provence, it is crown-shaped, flavored with orange blossom and decorated with candied fruit and pearl sugar.
Festive activities and family entertainment
Not to be missed: the magical automata exhibition
Christmas automatons, these mechanical characters that come to life every year, are a wonderful tradition that enchant young and old alike and embody the magic and spirit of Christmas. These small characters, often dressed in traditional costumes, reproduce scenes from everyday life or Christmas tales, with delicate and realistic movements. Today, Christmas automatons can be found in many markets, parks, and Christmas window displays around the world.
Let yourself be enchanted by the magic of the holidays during themagical exhibition of Christmas automatons at Le PontetThis 11th edition offers you a magical adventure aboard the Christmas train, an enchanted locomotive that will transport you to the Enchanted Glade. This magical place is populated by charming animals, mischievous elves and sparkling fairies. Come live an unforgettable experience where the automatons come to life to tell captivating stories, amazing young and old alike. 🎄🚂✨
You may also like...
More ideas to discover!
Themes
