Fete des Stes. Maries
Stes. Maries, Fête des
The highlight of the service held at the church during the Festival of the Holy Maries occurs when the flower-decked reliquary of the Maries is lowered slowly through a trap door in the ceiling. On the second day of the festival, there is a procession down to the sea for the blessing of the painted wooden vessel known as the "Bark of the Saints." The bark holds a silver urn which is believed to contain some of the bones of the saints. Thousands of devout pilgrims make the journey to Les Saintes Maries-de-la-Mer each year.
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Office of Tourism
5 Av. Van Gogh
P.O. Box 16
Saintes-Maries de la Mer, 13460 France
33-4-9097-8255; fax: 33-4-9097-7115
www.saintesmaries.com/us/index.php
AnnivHol-2000, p. 87
BkFest-1937, p. 123
DictFolkMyth-1984, p. 954
FestWestEur-1958, p. 38
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 361