Christmas in Provence

Most of us think of Provence and think of the south of France as ...... summer in the sun......

However it does have other seasons.....
At the moment it is the time for Christmas fairs....

 and the Santon creche!

Aix en Provence is a beautiful city at any time of year

but it has a different charm when it has the Christmas market

and the Christmas decorations are beautiful.....

Aix is known for its fountains and they look great at the moment......

and  the end of the Cours Mirabeau has Roi Renee  overseeing everything!

We  saw a poster for a Santon fair  and went to check it out....

They had all the figures one needed for a creche........

and a choice of actual creches... with a Provencal theme!

We were amazed at the other choices of Santons available.......

particularly these ones.......

We were not tempted to go the Santon route and preferred our traditional Christmas..... which we celebrated in our home in Provence

Santa Claus arriving.....

Traditional Christmas tree....  surrounded by presents.....

........ a traditional late Christmas dinner, with Christmas crackers.......

and ending with a Christmas cake decorated by our grandchildren.......