The figures, known as santons ("little saints"), are made of hand-painted clay. The landscapes are constructed using real rocks, dried lavender, and sprigs of thyme to represent the scrubland ( la garrigue ). This connection to the earth reminds celebrants of their specific regional geography. 4. Le Réveillon: Seasonality on the Plate

for a nature-focused Christmas weekend in a specific French region like Christmas in France - Rick Steves Europe