December 31, 2023
Reading time: 1 min.
This Provençal tradition will bring the LAVANDOU sunshine to your Christmas table in the heart of winter! The thirteen desserts refer to the meal bringing together Christ and the twelve apostles. What are these thirteen desserts in the Christmas meal?
The list varies depending on the city, here we offer you 13 traditional desserts from yesteryear when banana, pineapple and coconut had not yet reached our shores
![The 13 desserts, a Provençal tradition - Lavandou Tourist Office (1) The 13 desserts, a Provençal tradition - Lavandou Tourist Office (1)](https://i0.wp.com/www.ot-lelavandou.fr/app/uploads/iris-images/4746/lavandou-600x400-f50_50.webp)
OT Le Lavandou
1
The pompe à huile
The 13 desserts of Provence first include the sacrosanct oil pump (round or elongated pancake). This Christmas pomp is made from flour, olive oil, orange blossom water or anise seeds and brown sugar. The oil pump does not shut off but breaks manually otherwise it will be ruined within a year.
![The 13 desserts, a Provençal tradition - Lavandou Tourist Office (2) The 13 desserts, a Provençal tradition - Lavandou Tourist Office (2)](https://i0.wp.com/www.ot-lelavandou.fr/app/uploads/iris-images/9408/nuts-4692360-1920-2-600x400-f50_50.webp)
2
The 4 beggars made from dried fruits
Next come the dried fruits called “beggars” (Li pachichoi).
Their colors symbolized those of the clothing of religious orders who lived on alms. Walnuts and hazelnuts for the Augustinians, almonds for the Carmelites, dried figs for the Franciscans, raisins for the Dominicans
![The 13 desserts, a Provençal tradition - Lavandou Tourist Office (3) The 13 desserts, a Provençal tradition - Lavandou Tourist Office (3)](https://i0.wp.com/www.ot-lelavandou.fr/app/uploads/iris-images/9407/nougat-4666362-1920-2-600x400-f50_50.webp)
6
The 2 nougats
White nougat (cooked in a bain-marie) and black nougat (cooked over a fire).
![The 13 desserts, a Provençal tradition - Lavandou Tourist Office (4) The 13 desserts, a Provençal tradition - Lavandou Tourist Office (4)](https://i0.wp.com/www.ot-lelavandou.fr/app/uploads/iris-images/9426/candies-93988-1920-2-600x400-f50_50.webp)
8
Fruit paste or jelly
Quince pastes for example. Did you know ? The first dessert that was traditionally tasted was quince paste. Because it ensured that all the problems of the coming year would be alleviated!
![The 13 desserts, a Provençal tradition - Lavandou Tourist Office (5) The 13 desserts, a Provençal tradition - Lavandou Tourist Office (5)](https://i0.wp.com/www.ot-lelavandou.fr/app/uploads/iris-images/9427/candied-fruit-7489551-1920-2-600x400-f50_50.webp)
9
Candied fruits
Like the candied fruits of Apt and Carpentras made from melon, orange or lemon.
10
The dried fruit
Apricot, fig, grape or disguised nuts.
![The 13 desserts, a Provençal tradition - Lavandou Tourist Office (7) The 13 desserts, a Provençal tradition - Lavandou Tourist Office (7)](https://i0.wp.com/www.ot-lelavandou.fr/app/uploads/iris-images/9428/tangerines-1721590-1920-2-600x400-f50_50.webp)
11
Fresh Fruits
You have the choice between oranges, tangerines, apples, pears, grapes (at the time, specially preserved since the beginning of Autumn on shelves in the attics).
But also winter melons.
![The 13 desserts, a Provençal tradition - Lavandou Tourist Office (8) The 13 desserts, a Provençal tradition - Lavandou Tourist Office (8)](https://i0.wp.com/www.ot-lelavandou.fr/app/uploads/iris-images/4746/lavandou-600x400-f50_50.webp)
OT Le Lavandou
12
Calissons
Homemade or from Aix, many other regional variations can be suitable such as Allauch honey lollipops, biscotins, earlets, almond crunchies or any other delicious homemade pastries.
![The 13 desserts, a Provençal tradition - Lavandou Tourist Office (9) The 13 desserts, a Provençal tradition - Lavandou Tourist Office (9)](https://i0.wp.com/www.ot-lelavandou.fr/app/uploads/iris-images/9429/yellow-fruits-4689385-1920-2-600x400-f50_50.webp)
13
Dates
The only exotic fruit allowed is the date.
Complete these desserts with chestnuts, almond crunchies, pralines, homemade pastries.
Now that you know everything, you just need to choose 13.
And don't forget, everything is washed down with a small glass of cooked wine.
Indeed, at the time, after the meal, the Provençal people sang Christmas carols in Provençal as a family. Then they went to the church for Midnight Mass. She was also in Provençal.
On their way back, to cheer themselves up, they enjoyed grapes and cherries in brandy. They were nibbling what had been left on the table and drinking a small glass of “SAUVO-CRESTIAN”.
A few words in Provençal
- BREAD AND WINE
- The oil pump – The oil pump
- The cooked wine – Lou vin cue
DRIED FRUITS (THE BEGGERS)
- Dried figs – Lei figo seco
- Raisins – Lei passariho
- Nuts – Lei nouei
- Almonds – Leis amelo
- Hazelnuts – Leis avelano
- Dates – Li dàti
FRESH FRUITS
- Oranges – Lei arange
- Apples – Lei poumo
- Pears – Lei pero
- Mandarins – Lei mandarino
- The grape – Lou rasin
SWEET SWEETNESS
- Candied fruits from Apt and Carpentras
- Allauch honey lollipops, biscotins
- The calissons of Aix-en-Provence
Source Patricia GIRAUDO PESTANA
Themes
- Gastronomy
- Traditions
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