Christmas Window Shopping in Provence

Dec 4th was St. Barbe's Feast Day which was the beginning of the "Calendales" in Provence.  After the tradition of setting up three saucers of wheat which will grow from now until Christmas, until Christmas Eve most Provencal people will set about Christmas shopping and getting ready for their celebrations with friends and family.

We've taken a tour of Avignon's Christmas Market so now ... let's take a walk through some towns and villages to look at the store windows and "lecher les vitrines" - let's go window shopping at Christmastime in Provence.

  

            Green Christmas trees and snow covered trees spilling out onto the street ..

Dark Chocolate and Milk Chocolate Christmas trees ... so yummy to eat.

Elegant white and gold Christmas trees with pretty wrapped goodies beneath

This glittering red tree for a merry and bright Pharmacie

 Twinkling Christmas stars lead to a warm place on a cold, winter's night

Santa's workshop ... overflowing with toys of lots of good girls and boys

Santa's Elves make lots of toys to fill all the shelves!

A snowy scene filled with Christmas candy to fill "les petits souliers" ("Christmas shoes" take the place of Christmas stockings).

                       A chocolate fire engine and a fire fighter's helmet - what a treat!

One of Santa's helpers getting ready for a photo shoot .. amongst some great gift ideas

Lots of elegant gifts and decorations for La Maison

Are you dreaming of a white Christmas?

Twinkling lights, tinsel and ladies in traditional Provencal costume dancing the traditional Farandole 

 Holly and Ivy with elegant green and silver bows

.. And for Madame or Mademoiselle .. a stylish new Christmas outfit?

Shoes from the festive Lulu Shoes...

and to accessorize ... tulle and bows, perhaps a scarf or hat

A visit to this Salon de Coiffure ... is sure to put anyone in the Christmas spirit

Don't forget the Optometrist, filled with purple and white balloons 

- must be able to get a good look at all your gifts! 

Santa's waiting in the window of the Real Estate Agency to show you to 

your new home just in time for Christmas!

If driving lessons are on your list, Auto Ecole is just the place to visit

Christmas dessert - the traditional Buche de Noel, beautifully decorated a

nd ready to take home

Christmas Eve approaches ... Santa, his reindeer, polar bears and other friends at the North Pole are on the job making sure he is on time with all deliveries.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, all of France celebrates La Fete des Rois with the traditional Galette des Rois.  Here they are beautifully displayed and complete with crowns for the last celebration of les Calendales (the Christmas Season).

                                                          Happy Window Shopping!