Christmas Traditions in Provence This year, all I wanted for Christmas was santons – those little clay Provençal figurines that pop up every Christmas in the south of France. They’re part of the local Nativity scenes, and every person in the village is represented. I began collecting santons when I …

One of the Christmas traditions in Provence is called Cacho-Fio or Light the Fire. In Provence, Christmas evening begins with this ancient pagan custom. Cacho-fio is a ritual for lighting the Yule log (calendau, in Provencal) on the evening of December 24th. Together the youngest and the oldest of the …

December is a festive time in Provence. At this time of the year, outdoor and indoor market stalls brim with hearty meats, fowl, shellfish, and winter vegetables. I hope you enjoy this Festive Holiday Dinner Menu with my favourite, and slightly decadent, dishes – foie gras, duck confit and chocolate …

Building on their successful cooking school, our friends at Let’s Eat the World – Cook’n With Class Experiences offer virtual classes in addition to their regular (in-person) culinary programming in Paris and Uzès. Win a Virtual Cooking Class The online courses and culinary workshops include tasty options from mastering classic …

Epiphany on January 6th The “Three Kings day” is a real party at home. We like to make the “galette” ourselves and share this moment with the family. Besides, January is the month we celebrate my brother’s birthday (January 3) and mine (January 5). We would be delighted to welcome …

Holiday Wishes! It’s time to wish everyone all the best for this joyful season – Happy, Healthy Holidays! However, before we head out on a little technology break, it’s time to acknowledge all our terrific contributors. Inspired by Provence Lynne launched Aixcentric with the goal to post current events happening …

Holiday Traditions Christmas in Provence takes place, as in most regions of France, with family. It is a traditional holiday loaded with Christian symbols. The festivities start at the beginning of December at the time of Saint Barbara. Noël en Provence se passe, comme dans la plupart des régions de …

A French Christmas Yule Log Of all the culinary treats that grace the French Christmas table, nothing inspires more child-like joy than a rich, chocolate Bûche de Noël. Real yule logs, the kind from living trees, have had symbolic significance to the French for centuries. Until the late 1800s, it …

Nestled in the Alpes-Maritimes above the Cote d’ Azur is the medieval village of Lucéram. One day before Christmas, my friend decided to take me on a tour of the “Circuit des Crèches.” We drove high up the winding roads to the alpine region above the sea. Circuit des Creches …

The French Riviera is the ideal destination to soak up the holiday season with everything happening including Christmas markets dressed in their finest decorations and lights, food festivals and winter activities. There’s plenty for families to see and do, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune – here are …