CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 February 1939, Page 6

CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS

OBSERVANCES IN FRANCE. ANCIENT RITES & CEREMONIES. Christmas in France gives rise to a number of rites and ceremonies of which the origin goes back far into the past. All are picturesque, and year after year they are observed with unvarying ceremonial. At Le Cannet. in the Alpes Maritimes a ceremony that attracts visitors from afar is the “Shepherds' Vigil." This is a sort of oratorio, sung in the ancient language of Provence, and it: expresses doubt, hope, faith, then joy in the promise of salvation. In the little

church in which the ceremony is held on Christmas Eve a “creche,” or model of the manger of Bethlehem, is set up. with the images of all the personages of the nativity around it. It is only at mid-

night. however, that the effigy of the Infant Jesus is placed in the manger. Peasants from all around bring offerings, and the shepherds, dressed in strange costumes, carry into the church the finest lamb of their flock. At Allauch (Bouches-du-Rhone), a commune of 8.000 inhabitants, seven

miles from Marseilles, on the side over-

looking the sea, all the shepherds at the first peal of the church bells come

hastening down the hills by torchlight, driving their flocks before them, to meet with all their cattle before the church.

At. Les Baux (Bouches-du-Rhone), • one of those strange deserted towns to be found in the south of France which changing conditions of civilisation have drained of their inhabitants, Christmas midnight mass is well known, and the quiet streets are filled with automobiles from the- Riviera resorts bringing visitors to see the strange sight. Here a ram bedecked with ribbons, surrounded by drummers and fife and flute players, draws a small decorated cart-in which is the youngest lamb. Shepherds with their great cloaks and broad brimmed hats follow into the church, but before making their way up the aisle they stop and are supposed to be in doubt, and there is much play of appearing to search for the star to follow it to the altar. There the oldest of the shepherds, facing the oldest of the shepherdesses, takes the lamb in his arms and presents it to the priest after which it is passed from f.liepheid to shepherdess down the whole line and back, each shepherd bowing each shepherdess curtseying. At. Isle-sui’-f.'.6i’gues (Vaueluse) a lamb is also carried into the church. A small lantern, hung on a wire stretching from the- entrance to the altar, moves over the heads of the congregation as the shepherds, following the star it iepresents, approach the manger. At Sollies-Ville, another village of Provence, the whole population meets in a room of the- town hall, but this time to honour the memory of the brothers Maunier, benefactors of the commune. The mayor, surrounded by his councillors, recalls the legacy of these brothers to enable a distribution of bread to be made to all the inhabitants three times a year. While the mayor speaks the members of the council hold a lighted candle, which is. extinguished as soon as he has finished. Then twelve “apostles” are summoned, twelve children belonging to pour families, and each is given a litre of wine, two loaves of bread, a pound of meat, will) oranges, dates, nuts and

ip •. to take home to their parents.

At St Victor I’Abbaye, in Normandy, the Christmas Eve ceremony begins by m amusing rustic scene. Here the shepherds, gather in the porch of the church and lean against the carved pillars and listen with apparent semi-somnolent indifference to the voices of four

•angels” singing by the altar. One of I he shepherds gruffly calls to the sing-

ers to stop and leave them in peace. rii<•!! the "Miracle" takes place. Above the altar a great star of candles blazes forth, lhe shepherds “awake" and tile into the church toward the manger Witl'i its figures of the nativity, there to

offer their presents. A. Vieux-Perouges, a few miles from. Lyon.’, a small town whose houses and church and municipal buildings have not changed in centuries, Christmas Evo is celebrated in truly medieval urreundings. After the church service, ihc peal of the bells is the signal for a night of revelry. The town is famous

for its cuisine, and extraordinary meal; arc served. While the midnight, meal i: being prepared in the inns, townspeople ami visitors march through tlx street.' in a torchlight procession.