The French village, where I live part-time, opened my eyes last week to the importance in France of passing along culture and heritage, or patrimoine. For French people, patrimoine has to do first with realizing that French arts, history, culture, language, and traditions are the property of everyone French and then with making the commitment to pass that “property” along to the next generation.

Cultural Traditions on Parade

Passing along cultural heritage and traditions—that’s just what was happening last week on the streets of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, a pretty village in the south of France between Avignon and Marseille.

Each fall during the Fêtes Votives, Saint-Rémy remembers its past in a parade of old trades. Proud of their cultural heritage, citizens dress like their ancestors and portray their ancestors’ work roles as they walk twice around the road encircling the village.

Horses and donkeys march, too, and unruly sheep bleat, baaa, and bite at stacks of hay along the way.

The connection to farm animals is part of the French patrimoine. In fact, everyone in the parade was honoring the agricultural past of Saint-Rémy. Young women in long skirts and straw hats tossed lavender from the harvest.

The old winemaker harnessed his horses to haul full barrels of wine on his wooden wagon.

New Generations Connect to Their Cultural Heritage

Every generation participated. In that afternoon together, the French did something more important than putting a smile on the face of the many spectators. They transmitted a love for their French patrimoine to the newer generations. I could see it in the faces of the younger participants.

And I saw it when I looked at babies who were not sure why they were in a pushcart that day. But I knew why—they were reaching out as if to grasp their French heritage, one that they, too, will soon value and pass along to the generation that follows them.

Oh, I see—if you value your cultural heritage, investing time in traditional celebrations like this one ensures its continuity.

More on the Cultural Traditions of France

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. As a special treat, you can enjoy even more images of the south of France in these fun, free ebooks. Just click each image below:

The French village, where I live part-time, opened my eyes last week to the importance in France of passing along culture and heritage, or\u00a0patrimoine.\u00a0<\/em>For French people,\u00a0patrimoine\u00a0<\/em>has to do first with realizing that French arts, history, culture, language, and traditions are the property of everyone French and then with making the commitment to pass that “property” along to the next generation.<\/p>\n

$\"French$
Multiple generations of a French family get set for the parade
\u00a9 Sheron Long<\/p><\/div>\n
Cultural Traditions on Parade<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Passing along cultural heritage and traditions—that’s just what was happening last week on the streets of Saint-R\u00e9my-de-Provence, a pretty village in the south of France between Avignon and Marseille.<\/p>\n
Each fall during the F\u00eates Votives, Saint-R\u00e9my remembers its past in a parade of old trades. Proud of their cultural heritage, citizens dress like their ancestors and portray their ancestors’ work roles as they walk twice around the road encircling the village.<\/p>\n
Horses and donkeys march, too, and unruly sheep bleat, baaa, and bite at stacks of hay along the way.<\/p>\n
$\"Horse$
Horse-drawn wagons recall yesteryear
\u00a9 Sheron Long<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"Sheep$
Sheep and shepherds rest a moment during the parade
\u00a9 Sheron Long<\/p><\/div>\n
The connection to farm animals is part of the French\u00a0patrimoine.<\/em> In fact, everyone in the parade was honoring the agricultural past of Saint-R\u00e9my. \u00a0Young women in long skirts and straw hats tossed lavender from the harvest.<\/p>\n
$\"Women$
Women tossing lavender to the crowd
\u00a9 Sheron Long<\/p><\/div>\n
Farmers rolled rusty equipment through town.<\/p>\n
$\"Farmers$
Farmers and old farm equipment
\u00a9 Sheron Long<\/p><\/div>\n
The old winemaker harnessed his horses to haul full barrels of wine on his wooden wagon.<\/p>\n
$\"Winemaker$
Winemaker hauling old wooden barrels full of wine
\u00a9 Sheron Long<\/p><\/div>\n
The milkman used pedal power to pull two big jugs and one little girl.<\/p>\n
$\"Milkman$
Milkman pulling jugs of milk
\u00a9 Sheron Long<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/h4>\n
New Generations Connect to Their Cultural Heritage<\/h4>\n
Every generation participated. In that afternoon together, the French did something more important than putting a smile on the face of the many spectators. They transmitted a love for their French\u00a0patrimoine\u00a0<\/em>to the newer generations. I could see it in the faces of the younger participants.<\/p>\n
$\"Girls$
Younger generations participate
\u00a9 Sheron Long<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"Boy$ <\/a>
Proud wave from a boy on horseback
\u00a9 Sheron Long<\/p><\/div>\n
And I saw it when I looked at babies who were not sure why they were in a pushcart that day. But I knew why—they were reaching out as if to grasp their French heritage, one that they, too, will soon value and pass along to the generation that follows them.<\/p>\n
Oh, I<\/strong> see<\/strong>—if you value your cultural heritage, investing time in traditional celebrations like this one ensures its continuity.<\/p>\n
$\"Pushcart$
Babies ride, too, and travel the road of tradition
\u00a9 Sheron Long<\/p><\/div>\n
\u00a0More on the Cultural Traditions of France<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\n
I hope you enjoyed this glimpse of Saint-R\u00e9my-de-Provence. As a special treat, you can enjoy even more images of the south of France in these fun, free ebooks. Just click each image below:<\/span><\/h3>\n
$\"\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n
$\"\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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