The Gypsy – the Ninth (9th) Essential Santon for a Provençal Creche
The Gypsy - La Bohemienne (French) - Lou Boumian (Provençaux) – is number 9 on the list of the top 20 Essential Santons for a Provençal Creche. They are available in various versions in all four Marcel Carbonel Santons sizes offered by My Growing Traditions.
Their inclusion in the Santons' creche first occurred in 1820 and originates with early productions of the nativity story, in the Creche-Parlante and in Antoine Maurel’s Pastorale.
The bohemians include those known as Gypsies, the Tzians, and the Gitans. As a group they have long lived in Provence. They have their own patron Saint - Saint Sara. Every year on May 24 there is a pilgrimmage in the Camargue in her honor. The gypsies are of swarthy complexion and live a nomadic life travelling in caravans throughout Provence in colorful, horse-drawn carts doing whatever they can to eke out a living.
In August 1888, Vincent Van Gogh, who spent some time in Provence, especially Arles, created this wonderful oil painting: The Caravans - Gypsy Camp Near Arles
Dressed in clothing of the colors of the rainbow, with a scarf around their neck, and wearing a traditional pleated skirt, Gypsy women are known for playing their tambourines, singing, dancing, and telling fortunes. They ask for whatever contribution the audiences may wish to give. In Sizes #1 (Cricket), #2 (Elite) and #3 (Grande) the gypsy woman carries a tambourine and her baby. In Size Puce (Flea) she has a monkey by her side.
The men entertain as well with their animals at village festivals, here with their bears - available in all four sizes
and here with a guitar - available in Size #2 and Size #1 -
but the men also provide a variety of itinerant services: fixing farm equipment, repairing wheels, clipping dogs, reseating chairs, and repairing pots and pans.
The gypsies are watched closely, and in fact are often feared, by the villagers as they have a reputation for thievery to include whatever they may find useful, including chickens, and even children. The Gypsy and the Highwayman are often interchanged in being blamed for the stealing of the Blind Man's son. Sometimes the Tramp is seen to have wicked intentions and is clumped together with them.
They are included in the celebration of Christ's birth (an indication of the realization of how far the depth of redemption extends) - although they are said to have stayed at a safe distance from the manger, due to their reputation for stealing babies.
The former pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Manchester, New Hampshire, Father Charles DesRuisseaux, has a Santons collection once displayed annually at the diocesan museum. He tells the legend of the "Gypsy Séraphin who hears the Angel Boufarèu blow his trumpet to announce that le Bon Dieu (the Good God) 'has become a daddy.' For the first time in his life, Séraphin feels guilty for stealing. He tries to give Mary the stolen chicken and eggs, but Mary tells him, 'I realize you have a big heart, but my Son would prefer that you give them back to their owner.'. . . From that day, the Gypsy never stole again.”
For photos of the history and workshop of Carbonel enjoy our Marcel Carbonel Santons board on Pinterest.
Happy Childhood
New for 2013, Happy Childhood (Inge-Glas no. 1-005-13, 4-1/2" tall) is a Limited Edition of 999 pieces, with Presentation Box, and most especially is in collaboration with the German wooden ornament workshop of Christian Ulbricht. Ulbricht has crafted the wooden rocking horse in her hand.
This sweet little girl reminds one of a child in a Victorian playroom, as seen in this Bruck and Sohn advent calendar offered by My Growing Traditions.
We must admit we scooped Happy Childhood up immediately as well as Snow Tweet - both being in collaboration with Christian Ulbricht. We have loved Ulbricht's simple and elegant Christmas ornaments and carry them proudly at My Growing Traditions.
Wendt and Kühn 2013 Eleven Dot Post
Once a year Wendt and Kühn publishes their Eleven Dot Post - the magazine from their Workshops in Grunhainichen, Germany.
We thought you would enjoy reading this special publication celebrating the classic Wendt and Kühn Angels.
Click on the image above for a copy of the 2013 edition.
You can also find a copy of it posted on our website.
My Growing Traditions carries a special Christmas selection of Wendt and Kuhn Angels.
Munich Christmas Market Advent Calendar
Brück and Sohn of Meissen, Germany have been in the printing business since 1793 and they have created a special series of Advent Calendars celebrating European towns, many of them in Germany, naturally.
Having lived in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, we visited many of the Bavarian Christmas markets - Chriskindlmarkts - year-in, year-out. Munich, the capital of the Free State of Bavaria, Germany, was the closest large Christmas market and one we never missed. Bruck and Sohn's Munich Advent Calendar is a treasured memory of those wonderful years.
In 2013 Munich's Christkindlmarkt and Kripperlmarkt opens on Monday, November 25th.
Munich's Christmas Market is special, in that since the 18th century it has had a section devoted specifically to Krippen (the nativity crib or creche). The Kripperlmarkt has only a half dozen booths and features hand-crafted, hand-carved nativity mangers, figures, and accessories from Oberammergau, South Tyrol, and the Erzgebirge (all wood-carving centers in Germany).
New Carbonel Santons for 2013 - Victorine (Grande), the Quilter (Elite), and the Ribbon Merchant (Cricket)
Every year the Marcel Carbonel Santons workshop in Marseille creates at least one new Santon, and this year they have offered us three.
In Size #3 (Grande) - Victorine - a young girl with her doll
She is also available in Size #2 (Elite): find her here
For Size #2 (Elite), they have presented an entirely new character, a very special Santon - the Quilting Woman - Femme au boutis
For us, one of the delights in the world of Santons are the Provencal textiles, so having a figure representing the wonderful fabrics and quilts of Provence is more than special.
Finally, the third new Santon for 2013 is in Size #1 (Cricket) - the Ribbon Merchant - Femme aux rubans. A street peddler, she wanders the villages selling her beautiful, festive wares.
The Ribbon Merchant is also available in Sizes #2 and #3. Find them here
We are not certain as to why the Carbonel studios came up with such an abundance of new Santons this year. Perhaps it is because Marseille, the home of the Carbonel Workshops, is the European Capital of Culture for 2013. They have honored not just the city of Marseille, but the area stretching from Martigues to La Ciotat and have also included Arles, Aix, Aubagne and other towns and villages in the area. We are all familiar with the Santons figures from Arles. And Aubagne is the center for ceramicists and Santons. Whatever there reason - we are more than pleased to offer these wonderful new figures.
For photos of the history and workshop of Carbonel enjoy our Marcel Carbonel Santons board on Pinterest.
Advent Calendar Candles
In Denmark Advent Calendar Candles are traditional.
According to the official website of Denmark:
We have carried Advent Calendar Candles on and off and are pleased to once again offer them. These Advent taper Calendar Candles are Red or White. 10" tall.
They are marked with the days of December 1-24 and decorated with Reindeer and Snowflakes. A memorable tradition! The big challenge is to remember only to burn a little every day.
Gingerbread House Fairy Tale Advent Calendar
We are ever so pleased to be able to offer this German Gingerbread House Advent Calendar.
Glitter-dusted and 3-Dimensional, this special Advent Calendar folds out to form a Gingerbread House. It sets up very nicely in the middle of a table so that the children can easily enjoy it from all sides. A wonderful holiday table centerpiece.
Three Fairy Tales are seen on the sides of the house: Hansel and Gretel, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and the Bremen Town Musicians. The calendar stands 8" high x 9.5" wide x 5" deep and is made in Germany.
My Growing Traditions also offers Hansel and Gretel, the Wicked Witch, and an Inge-Glas ornament of the Gingerbread House itself.
We also carry Inge-Glas' Snow White and the Seven Dwarf ornaments
and a wonderful wood carving of the Grimms' Fairy Tales Bremen Town Musicians by the Christian Werner Workshop of Seiffen, Germany.
Enjoy a Fairy Tale Christmas!
