Hello Monaco magazine Winter 2018 - issue HM02 | Page 83

Monaco Traditions I ENG n Monaco, Christmas Eve brings the entire family together. With festive decor illuminating the entire Principality, and specialty foods on offer, it’s a perfect opportunity to share warm moments with your loved ones. The «Pain de Natale» is a one of the oldest Monegasque traditions, specially consecrated during Christmas Mass. A round, sweet bread with four to seven hazelnuts and an olive branch stacked in the form of a cross is a must for the Christmas table. Like many ancient traditions, it has been at risk of «extinction». However, the Monaco Committee on Traditions is trying to revive it in cooperation with local bakeries, selling this special sweet bread a few days before Christmas. Another ancient Christmas tradition involves an olive branch: the olive branch blessing. Before sitting down to a traditional Christmas table, the youngest or the oldest guest would dip an olive branch into a glass of wine, go up to the fireplace and make a prayer and the sign of a cross. All the other guests would then drink their wine and sit down to the bountiful table, both refined and generous. And no Monegasque Christmas feast would be complete without turkey and foie gras! Chocolate, white and black hazelnut nougat, pine nuts and pistachios are also on the table for the children’s delight. Traditional entertainment included raffles and other games. Another interesting Christmas t radit ion is that of thirteen desserts, served in honour of Jesus Christ and his t welve apostles. One of them would be the «4 beggars», symbolizing different Catholic orders bound by a vow of poverty. Casino Monte-Carlo Thirteen Desserts Another interesting Christmas tradition is that of thirteen desserts, served in honour of Jesus Christ and his twelve apostles. One of them would be the «4 beggars», symbolizing different Catholic orders bound by a vow of poverty: Hazelnuts and walnuts for the Augustinians; dried figs for the Franciscans; almonds for the Carmelites and raisins for the Dominicans. The main dessert, however, is «La Pompe», a type of sweet focaccia made with flour, olive oil, sugar, and orange flower essence. Traditionally, it is not cut with a knife, but broken by hand, just as Christ broke his bread. If it is done in any other way, it is said that financial ruin is to be expected in the coming year. The 13 desserts are particularly popular in Provence. Here is how Marie Gasquet describes the Provençal Christmas dinner in her novel, Childhood in Provence: «It has to be thirteen desserts, thirteen plates full of sweets – twelve of them filled with fruits from the fields and gardens, and the thirteenth, the most beautiful, full of dates to the brim». New for 2017 After the festive dinner, many Monegasques attend Midnight Mass, traditionally held by the Archbishop of Monaco. The consecrated bread is then distributed among the attendants. Until recently, Midnight Mass was only held in Monaco’s Cathedral. This year, all the churches in the Principality will be holding this ceremony to welcome the 25th of December. © hellomonaco.com Merry Christmas! Hello Monaco – Winter 2018 / 81