On Christmas Eve, towns and villages are enlivened by living cribs and pastorals. We share as a family the "big supper", a meager but nevertheless hearty meal of 24 December which ends with thirteen desserts. The big supper (Big soupa in Provençal) consists of a lean meal. The table is then decorated with holly with red balls and saucers of the wheat of the Holy Beard.
There is always a cover for "the poor" destined for the soul of the dead family, who was invited to the feast. Seven thin dishes are served to memorize "the seven wounds of Christ". On Christmas Eve demanding fasting and abstinence from meat, the meal is lean but hearty. The abundance of Christmas dishes contrasts with everyday life, but they remain simple in their preparation.
The tradition of the thirteen desserts symbolizes Christ and his twelve apostles. There are 4 beggars, representing different Catholic religious orders (raisins, almonds, nuts and hazelnuts, dried figs). Complete with quince paste and jam, oil pump, candied fruit, black nougat and white nougat of Provence, apples and pears, plums, oranges (symbol of wealth at the time), mandarins and clementines, Christmas melon, white grapes, Sweets: chocolate truffles or papillotes, bugnes, milk cake, almond cake and dates. Each picks a little bit of each dessert while enjoying a cooked wine.
It’s good luck! all year long...!