Saint Barbe - ABBE PHOTO

Among the traditions of the calendar time that begins on Advent Sunday, it is on December 4 that Saint Barbe is honoured. But who was she?

On 4 December, the « Barbara » but this was not always the case

In fact, until 1969 and the Church's modification, these were the « Barbe » who were honored... This is why this date remains attached to the « Holy Barbe », one of the highlights of our Christmas traditions in Provence, and one of those that remains among the most rooted in the ceremonial that begins on Advent Sunday; this year on Sunday 27 November, to end at the Chandeleur on Thursday 2 February 2023...

A tradition that finds its sources in ancient times

It was then a good practice to plant wheat, a symbol of fertility, to ensure that the harvest would be abundant, for the wheat, by sprouting and growing properly as winter approached, allowed to consider harvests, and therefore year, under the best auspices... Our Provençal traditions have relied on this practice to integrate it into the holdandal time, because it is de facto the prosperity of the family, which was assured if wheat germinated at Christmas in a robust and provided way...

One of the provencal adages illustrates as follows:
« When blad vèn bèn, Tout vèn bèn bèn »

This usually translates as follows:
« Well-germed wheat is prosperity for the whole year. »

So many and many are those who on this day of St. Barbe, that is to say 20 days before Christmas, make sure to respect this tradition of the three. « Sietouns » (or three saucers in French), consisting of planting grains of wheat on a cotton bed in three cups, then watering them regularly until they germinate and the wheat stems grow firmly.

Childhood memories

The oldest, like me, certainly remember those saucers that first adorn our chimneys, then were placed on the table of the « Big Dinner » with yellow and red ribbons during the Veillée and Christmas Eve, before being placed in the crèche for « brightening » landscapes up to the Chandeleur... To attest, I attach you to an annex, two photos taken at my parents' house on Christmas night, where after waking up, one of the « Seitouns » had been placed in the very small and very modest crèche, remembering a trip to Palestine many years ago...

A holy patroness who surprises

Let us not forget either, that « Holy Barbe » is the patron of « all that burns, bursts, fulgurates and astonishes » in connection with the legend that his father, a pagan king in the 3rd century, was struck by lightning, after having publicly beheaded his daughter who refused to deny his faith, after having subjected him to the worst punishment, abuse and torture. That is why, the fire having avenged the martyrdom of Saint Barbe, the firefighters, miners, gunners, polytechnicians or other pyrotechnicians, chose him as patroness and organized on that date numerous demonstrations... For the little History, it is necessary to know that during the drilling of the tunnel under the Channel, the only date that had been unemployed each year, was December 4, with reference to the Patronne des Mineurs...

Some details

« Remove them « Sietouns » for the Holy Barba, but plant the wheat only a week later, because the temperatures of our rooms today, have nothing to do with those of our ancestors! »

The wheat of the Holy Barbe is sold to charitable associations.