June traditions

June Solstice
We celebrate the summer solstice by huge fires called St John’s fires on Saint John Baptiste’s day (June 24th). Young people build a pyre which is over 10 meters high. At night, they have a round around the fire; when the pyre is lower enough, they start jumping over it. Of course the first ones to jump are the bravest. A young man wishing to get married in the year must be among the bravest to convince the fiancée’s father to give him her hand.

In Vence we celebrate it in the initial ruined village hidden in the close by mountain. It starts by a huge picnic shared by all the locals and folk music and songs.

June 21st is the music festival, you have free concerts of all types (classic, jazz, techno, folk, foreign…) all over France. Any person playing an instrument can stand on a square or the street and play. It started in France and now it is all over Europe.

Fêtes Patronales

Each village and city is protected by a saint who has a special day for celebrating. On this occasion there is a festival organized by the city. Thus any time of the year, you have a chance to participate to such a feast.

It usually starts with a service in Provencal or at least with Provence traditional music. Then there is a thank you ceremony to the monument of death for the soldiers who died to defend our homeland. Then the entire village gathers for a free aperitif usually followed by a big banquet to which anybody can attend for a moderate fee. In the afternoon or evening there is a grand ball.

Folk festivals
All year round, you have folk celebrations.

Some villagers revive traditional crafts for such events. You can see people practicing old jobs (blacksmith, lavandieres, woodcutters, bakers, spinners, lace makers…) and buy authentic artifacts.

You can always see traditional attires, folk dances, and enjoy folk music.
You can also buy home-made traditional food.


Transhumance

As the green pastures are rare in summer on the coast, shepherds take their sheep to the mountain sometimes on foot, most of the times in big trucks. This is another opportunity for celebration. Villages organize festivities when tens of thousands of sheep cross them. There are traditional craft and food events, dances, music…

I recommend the one in Saint Etienne de Tinée, end of June.