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The 13
desserts of Christmas
(Les Treize Desserts de Noël).
The thirteen desserts are the
traditional dessert foods used in celebrating Christmas in the south of France.
During a meal referred to as “Gros Souper”
It is said that the deserts refer to
Jesus, and the 12 apostles sitting at the last supper. Their composition varies
from village to village. But all are in common, that they will be served on a
table, decorated with 3 candlesticks, representing the Trinity. Depending on the
family the thirteen desserts are eaten either before or after
Midnight mass on the 24th December.. They will remain on the table for the
following 3 days, until 27th December.
The deserts must be served all at the same time, and every
guest must taste each one of them. .jpg)
In some places children are not allowed
to start eating unless they name all the desserts first.
It is important that there are at least
13 desserts – also called Les Treize Desserts de Noël. The 13 desserts can vary
depending on tradition & region. Generally, they are:
Dried
fruit and nuts
The first four of these are known as
the "four beggars" (les quatre mendiants), representing the four mendicant
monastic orders: Dominicans, Franciscans, Augustinian and Carmelites.
Raisins (Dominicans)
Walnuts or hazelnuts (Augustines)
Dried figs (Franciscans)
Almonds (Carmelites)
Pompes à l'huiles Flat
yeast bread made with olive oil such as a Gibassié, or fougasse. (This
bread should be broken like Jesus did, at the last supper, and not cut, to
prevent bankruptcy in the new year) This would be eaten with jams made during
the grape harvest either from grapes or figs.
Fresh fruit
Apples
Pears
Oranges
Winter melon
Grapes
Tangerines
 Sweets. This is a lists of desserts that would be commonly used
locally :
Biscotins (biscuits) from Aix;
Calissons d'Aix, almond-paste pastry with sugar icing (marzipan)
Candied citron
Casse-dents of Allauch (biscuit)
Cumin and fennel seed biscuits
Fried bugnes
Fruit tourtes
Oreillettes, light thin waffles
Pain d'epice
Quince cheese/quince paste (Pâte de coing)
Dates (that could be stuffed with marzipan)
Calisson d'aix en Provence
Quince fruit paste (or jam)
Fresh white grapes
Christmas melon (called verdau), called green espiran in English due to its
colour.
Fresh oranges (sign of wealth)
Candied melons
Winter pear and apples
Plums
Yule log
Two kinds of nougat, symbolizing good and evil |
