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Provencal Christmas

Christmas traditions in France - Christmas in Provence

Provencal Christmas : midnight Mass in Baux de Provence


Provencal Christmas Provencal Christmas - Marie with Jesus Provencal Christmas - angel

 

At midnight, the service begins with the Carol Pastre di mountagno (the Angel's words and the departure of the shepherds). It continues with the Epistle, the Gospel and the Sermon*. Then, the Shepherd Carol is sung, the great news (dialogue between an angel - a child's voice - and a shepherd), composed at the end of the 18th century by the parish priest and the doctor of Les Baux.


Provencal Christmas
Provencal Christmas - midnight mass

Then, the shepherds' procession takes place to the sound of the Carol La Luno es Levado... Arriving in front of the altar, the angels sing, in Provençal, the Gloria.
The baile pastre (chief of the shepherds) pays homage, the first to, to the baby Jesus whom the priest presented to him. After him come the shepherdesses, until the baile-pastre comes back to end the ceremony, with a new homage and the final salutation: silence, accompanied only by the airs from the galoubet pipe and tambourine. The choir then sings the La Chato Avuglo (account of the miraculous cure of a young blind girl).
 
Then comes the moment for the Elevation : the baile-pastre approaches the altar holding the offertory lamb in his arms. After the Provençal hymn Armado Celèsto (invocation to the Angels) Communion is given to the faithful.
The midnight mass finishes with the Christmas blessing. A last time, the choir sings, in Provençal, the Carol Pastre Baussen, expressing the joy of the shepherds of Baux de Provence.


©José Nicolas


Provencal Christmas : midnight Mass in Provence


Midnight mass - Provencal Christmas


Provencal Christmas
in Baux de Provence


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