What santons are essential in the crib?

When it comes to creating a nativity scene, whether for religious or cultural reasons, you always want it to be aesthetically pleasing. As each santon is more beautiful than the next, it's easy to get lost and even forget the most important ones. Here's a reminder of the santons you shouldn't forget in your crib.

The santons of the Holy Family

The santons of the Holy Family are an essential part of the nativity scene. They include Mary, Joseph and Jesus. Mary is usually depicted with her hands clasped, close to her child. Joseph is frequently leaning on a stick. The baby Jesus is in their midst, lying on a bed of straw.

The angel

Often forgotten in the crib, the angel is nevertheless one of the most important figures. In the Bible, the angel announces the birth of Christ to the shepherds. He therefore plays an important role in the Nativity scene. The angel santon is often depicted blowing a trumpet. He announces the happy event to the people around him and guides them to the stable. He is often suspended above the crib.

The shepherds

Contrary to popular belief, the shepherds are also among the main figures. In fact, they are the first to be warned by the angel of Jesus' birth. Shepherds are usually accompanied by sheep in the crib. Guided by the angel's trumpet, they symbolize wisdom and the elders. The shepherds' santons are depicted either standing or lying down, and sometimes with a lamb around their necks. The House of Fouque's emblem is a shepherd created by Paul Fouque in 1952, who holds his hat and whose cape flies in the wind, “le Coup de Mistral©”, whose production is more complex and which revolutionized the art of santon by bringing this idea of movement to it.

The mage King

Epiphany isn't just about gourmet delights, with the galette des Rois! It traditionally symbolizes the arrival of the Three Wise Men to the newborn Jesus. According to the Bible, the santons Gaspard, Melchior and Balthazar are Persian scholars who come to offer gifts to Christ. Gaspard brings frankincense, Balthazar offers gold and Melchior gives myrrh. They are positioned slightly apart to symbolize the fact that they are on the move. They are not positioned near the crib until January 6, the day of the Epiphany.

The donkey and the ox

Donkeys and oxen are the subject of much debate in Christian tradition. They are not mentioned in the Bible. Whether or not they are the main santons is therefore debatable. However, in most representations, these two symbolic animals are present around the Jesus figure. Their presence is taken from the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew.

What about the other santons?

In addition to these main figures in the traditional crib, there are many other characters and animals you can add to bring your crib to life! Here are just a few of them.
The Ravi is one of Provence's best-known characters. He symbolizes innocence and bravery, but he's also a santon known for his naivety and simplicity. Some would even call him “the village idiot” or, on a more positive note, “the village good-luck charm”.
The blind man leaning on his son's shoulder is another traditional santon common in Provence. This santon is represented by an old man with gray hair, a beard and a cane. His son holds a hat in his hand. Legend has it that the blind man is hoping for a miracle from the infant Jesus, so that he can regain his sight.
The bohemians, or boumian and boumiane in Provençal, are controversial figures in the nativity scene. They are the only ones considered “wicked”. Their knowledge and practices are disturbing and frightening. They are dressed in brightly-colored clothes, a large black cape and a red scarf on their heads. A knife hangs from the boumian's belt. The boumiane carries a tambourine and her child on her hip.
The Pistachier is a farm hand. In some respects, he resembles the Ravi. He is considered rather naive and sometimes even drunk. He brings victuals to the crib. He is often depicted wearing a slovenly outfit and carrying a seal.