December 4^th – the feast of St. Barbe  - the beginning of the “Calendales” as the Christmas Season is known in Provence.  Every year on December 4^th, families throughout  the region follow this time honored feast day tradition which involves the growing of wheat.

The Christmas Creche is a very big part of the seasonal tradition in Provence. During this time, local stores – bakeries, butchers, pharmacies and banks sell packets of wheat seeds for charity.  Known as le Blé de l’Esperénce (wheat of hope), or ble de la Sainte Barbe (St. Barbara's wheat) - during the time from the feast of St. Barbe many shop windows will display small saucers of sprouting wheat seeds on their counters and in their windows. 

As legend has it, Christ was born in Provence and the crèches depict scenes of the village at the time of his birth.  The beginning of the family crèche takes place on St. Barbe’s feast day, when families place take three small saucers lined with damp cotton wool “carpets” and “plant” wheat or lentil seeds on all three saucers which are placed on a window sill.  The growth of the wheat signifies fertility and fraternity as the cotton gives up the moisture to the seeds which sprout,  and with the help of the sunlight, they grow and develop.  During the ensuing 20 days, the seeds are diligently watered and cared for.  Hopefully, the sprouts  will grow into tall, straight stems of bright green wheat or lentil grass.  If it does, it is said that the following year will being about a bountiful harvest.  The saying goes, “Quand le blé va bien, tout vient."  "When the wheat goes well, everything goes (works, goes well)".  If the wheat does not sprout or is meagre, better start saving now !

On Christmas Eve, the saucers – ribbons decorating the (hopefully) lush, tall grass will be placed in the créche to represent the fields that  surrounded the manger where Jesus was born.
 

The Blé de St. Barbe or St. Barbara’s wheat, plays it’s very important part in the Christmas créche and then goes on to serve as inpspiration for the new season’s  crops.  The sprouts are commonly  planted out at the four corners of the real fields of crops or burned and the ashes sprinkled  over the four corners of the fields to ensure a good harvest for the coming season,  while  in some parts of Provence the ashes of St. Barbara’s wheat is kept in the house and thrown in the fire during thunderstorms to protect against lightening.

The beginning of the Christmas season  is signified by the feast of St. Barbe …….. families will now get on with the preparation which will culminate in the Christmas Eve Gros Super and the Christmas Day festivities, followed by St.Sylvestre (New Year’s Eve) and then la Fête  des Rois – the festival of the Three Kings or the Epiphany. 
Lots of fun to follow with the Christmas traditions of Provence.