Christmas cribs: Where to get your hands on the last santons of the Bassin ?

A whole collection of santons, presented by Michel Martin, one of the members of the Saint-Christophe association. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

With the holiday season approaching, Christmas cribs are filling up and filling up with santons. But you still have to find them, these little men. What about in the Alès basin ?

Santons are traditionally part of Christmas cribs in the south of France, and more particularly around the Provençal and Occitan regions. These small human statues, made of clay or plaster, are generally designed and decorated by specialist craftsmen, the santonniers. But as Christmas approaches, in the Gard, the places where you can find them are rare. A quick overview of the stores that try to attract customers with discounts and promotions.

A typical Provençal nativity scene. “Le Ravi”, an emblematic character, raises his arms to celebrate the arrival of baby Jesus. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

The santons are selling like hotcakes

Santons ? “There are fewer and fewer of them. But we still have some!“, they say at the Foir’Fouille store in Alès. It must be said that the region is not culturally very much a santon maker. The santons come more from the east, from Provence. “What we sell is not Provençal. It's more Chinese“, explains the sales company, which explains that it has trouble finding real santons. Despite everything, they sell like hotcakes.

The same observation is made by Jardiland, a home sales and development company: “We still have some santons from the Escoffier house (a well-known Provençal house), but not many nativity santons“. And to sell off its stocks, the firm wants to attract customers with promotions, with two santons bought for one free, until December 18.

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The Centrakor Alès company is focusing on discounts and a variety of decorations. “Our santons are €3 each. We have several decorations. Houses, town hall…“

In the heart of the city, shops are struggling to find small Provençal santons. “We're not selling any this year, but a lot of people are asking us for them“, explains Lorraine Chaix, from the Petite Brocante, rue Taisson. On the Grand Rue, Yves Delon from the Le Bertoul store has also come up empty-handed: “We looked for some for a while, we wanted to sell some for the Christmas period.” The shopkeeper regrets not being able to find a supplier. “Quality santons“, it's not so easy to find…

A santon from Mexico, recognizable by the “antennae” on the character's head. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

Filipino santons, dressed with paper. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

Gypsy santons. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

There are always four natural elements in nativity scenes

While the Sainte-Marie home in Saint-Christol-Lez-Alès is hosting an exhibition of Provençal nativity scenes until January 5. Jean-Louis Sabatier, a great lover of santons, explains the symbols associated with these small models. Knowing that “we are not a region of santons“, he prefers to buy them via sites like Leboncoin, or to go directly to Marseille. “In a nativity scene, owe always find the four elements, he explains. Fire, with lanterns, ovens. Water, with the river. Earth, via the decor, like trees, rock. And air, wind, like with the turning mill.” These elements ink the Nativity scene “in a small realistic world“.

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