Illuminations in a Provence Village

 December is always a festive month in Provence. Each village hosts its own illumination ceremony at the beginning if the month to commemorate the advent season. Lights are hung carefully in the weeks that precede the ceremony and until that moment remain unlit. When everything is finally lit, it is all illuminated at once. The wonder is everywhere. 

This year, the Provençal village rolled out the Christmas market on the same evening as the light ceremony. The villagers strolled through the streets, admiring the lights and browsing the stands of goods - homemade trinkets and gifts, sipping mulled wine and hot chocolate.

As is often the case in Provence villages, the illumination ceremony started with a performance. The dancers were impressive and used fire as a symbol of the light and jubilation of this season of the year, despite shorter days.