The Santon Christmas fair in Marseille: A global event
At the approach of Christmas, for many years, Marseille is adorned with its finery. As in many cities in France, the Christmas market will come to settle, to allow everyone to find original ideas for Christmas gifts, with its Santon Christmas fair.
Crafts local or exotic, everyone will leave with enough to put under the tree. Since November 17 and until January 6, 2019, more than eighty cottages await you on the Old Port, near the Ferris wheel, on the Quai de la Fraternité. Santons are a very nice souvenir from Marseille.
Christmas Santons fair in Marseille since 1803
If the Christmas market has become somewhat banal, in Marseille as elsewhere, the Phocaean city is home to the approach of Christmas and the beginning of the advent a much more typical fair: the fair Christmas Santas . The Provencal crib and its famous terracotta figurines (its famous santons) is one of the most entrenched traditions of Christmas. And the Santons fair in Marseille is the oldest fair in France.
The Christmas Santons fair in Marseille has been held every year since 1803 and is known all over the world. This 216th edition will be no exception, offering such diversity that it will be difficult for everyone to navigate among the multitude of colors and characters on offer. To each his little trick to find his bearings … If the tourists and the curious walk around the twenty-six santonniers present, connoisseurs come list in hand, find the same craftsman every year. And take care to avoid duplicates.
Our offers to spend a weekend in Marseille
The santonniers workshop on the Christmas Santas fair
You wonder how are the santons made? You would like to know the techniques, the materials, the know-how of the santonniers? Come to discover their work thanks to the workshop of the santonniers.
In the Place Charles de Gaulle, you can follow the manufacture of these traditional figurines step by step. Do you have any idea of the time and the minutia needed to make the santons? From modeling clay to decorating, molding, stamping and baking … Attend demonstrations every week-end until January 6th and enjoy the Christmas time to stroll through Marseille.
0 Comments