The Gardian’s Cabin
Typical habitat of the Camargue in the nineteenth century, it served as housing for agricultural workers. They are similar to the reed huts present throughout the Languedoc and Roussillon coastline. The Camargue huts are made of locally available plant materials such as reed (sagne), very useful for its low cost, the noble materials being reserved for the construction of the mas, residence of the breeders. The cabins also served as dwellings for fishermen, shepherds, weavers and sauniers.
The length of the hut is oriented to the north so that it does not offer resistance to the wind and especially to the mistral. It has no foundation and its soil is clay. The low walls are whitewashed and reveal some narrow openings, which protect the inhabitants from the sun. The steep slope of its roof with two reed slopes allows a good flow of rain water. It has no chimneys but a central fireplace without a hood. A simple hole in the roof allows to evacuate the smoke.
There are no longer any visible old huts but only modernised replicas that serve as cottages, guest rooms or restaurants for tourists and holidaymakers. Its architecture is always appreciated for the pleasure of seeing the tradition continue and for its adaptation to the harsh climatic conditions of the Camargue.
The traditions Taurines
Bullfighting traditions are a very striking aspect of the regional culture…
Typical of the midday, the Camargue race is a bullfighting game that takes place in the arenas. The purpose of the raseteur (all dressed in white) is to catch with bare hand the attributes hanging on the bull’s head. They are three in number and must be caught in the following order: the roundel (red ribbon attached between the horns), the acorns (white wool pompom attached to the basa of each horn), then the strings that surround the base of the horns. Shavers use a 4-pronged hook, sometimes attached to the wrist. Once taken, the bull pursues the raseteur in the arena, not hesitating to rush into the barriers, see trying to jump them, making the crowd shudder. The race is without killing, there is no question of hurting the animal. The Camargue races celebrate the courage of the bulls and the agility of the raseteurs. The Camargue bull or «cocardier» is indeed smarter, more nervous and faster than its Spanish cousin, the fighting bull. The cocardier gets caught up in the game and progresses through the races. It becomes more difficult to shave. Some even become real local stars. When they die, tradition dictates that he be buried standing with his head turned towards the sea.
The Abrivado is a very old practice that consisted of driving the bulls from the pastures to the arenas where the animals had to participate in races. An escort of riders accompanied the bulls (the biou in Provençal) to ensure their safety. Over time, the guards made it a habit to cross the streets of the villages at high speed to prevent the young villagers from disturbing the convoy. In fact, they played the bulls, which frequently escaped from the herd. Nowadays, the Abrivados are organized for parties and participate in the folklore of the village.
The Bandido is the reverse route, the return to the tank and marks the end of the show.
Encierro is a word of Spanish origin which translates as «enclose». By this we mean the confinement of the bulls to the corrals (courts generally adjacent to the bullring), in which they will be kept until the day of the bullfight. In the midday, the encierro is a release of bulls on a closed course inside the village, in a street closed at both ends by wagons and barriers, or in a public square whose accesses are closed in the same way.
The pilgrimage
Every year since the Middle Ages, the great pilgrimage of the gypsies takes place in the Saintes-Maries de la Mer. The history of the pilgrimage mixes with the history of the city itself, famous for its tyradition of reception of the gypsies. According to legend, the three Maries (Marie-Jacobé, Marie-Salomé and Marie-Madeleine) were driven out of Palestine and placed in a boat without a sail or oar. Pushed by the currents, they ran aground in 48 on the shores of the Rhone Delta at the place of the present city. There they would have been welcomed on the shore by Sara the black, camping with her tribe on the shores of the Rhone. Other stories tell that Sara was the Egyptian servant of the three Maries and that she would have been part of the boat trip. When they died, a cult spread, confirmed by the construction of the church-fortress in the twelfth century. Saint Sara became the patron saint of the gypsies who have worshipped her for many years.
Pilgrimage is both a Christian manifestation but also an exceptional tourist phenomenon. On this occasion, the gypsies come from all over Europe for this sacred meeting. The crowd invaded the village and led the relics of the Saints to the sea for a purifying blessing. The immersion of Saint Sara precedes by a day the others and her statue is submerged until half-body. The ritual of immersion is characteristic of the Provençal civilization, and its fear of the Mediterranean. The pilgrimage also offers a real show in town and gives the opportunity to listen to many flamenco guitarist musicians, to see the gypsies dancing but also to be read the lines of the hand. The presence of Arlésiennes and Gardians also allows to admire the traditional Camargue costumes.
The cross of Camargue
Created in 1924, the Croix de Camargue represents the Camargue spirit and its values. It alone represents the «Camargue Nation» because it symbolically associates the guardians, the fishermen and the Saintes Maries.
It consists of three elements representing:
- The Faith by the tridents on the cross of the guardians
- Hope by the anchor of the fishermen
- Charity through the hearts of the Holy Marys
The costume
The masculine costume was traditionally worn by peasants or artisans. It derives its origin from a city costume. The discrepancy with time makes it its originality, indeed this type of costume being neglected for a long time by the bourgeois of the cities. It consists of a French panties with stockings or gaiters, a vest and a jacket. The only element that has lasted over time is the taillolle, this red wool belt worn at the waist.
The traditional guard costume was introduced in the 1920s. The gardian wears the taupe skin pants and the colorful shirt for riding. On special occasions, he wears the black velvet jacket, tie and wide-brimmed hat.
The feminine costume known as the Arlésiennes comes directly from the Louis XV period. It is worn by women of all conditions throughout Provence but is straight inspired by the Camarguais costume. The young girls wear the costume of Mireille that is to say a skirt and a simple bodice. From the age of 16, they can finally wear the real Arlesian costume. The special headdress requires long hair. Depending on the day of the week and the tasks to be performed, it can be raised on the top of the head and held by a ribbon, tie or lace knot. The costume consists of a chapel (lace in the shape of a trapeze covering the chest), a large square shawl and a long dress in satin of different colors and pinched at the waist. The Arlésiennes embellish their costume with numerous ornaments: a silver neck circumference, different Provençal crosses in gold, solid gold bracelets decorated with diamonds and rings with precious stones. Only married women can wear earrings. All of these gilding is passed down from generation to generation.
