Posted in Uncategorized on Jul 7th, 2010
At 3:00 p.m. we are in the crush of a huge crowd that is gathering outside the entry of the church. We start out with good spots for viewing the Procession, just one row back, but we are elbowed out by a big, tall Italian tourist who keeps thrusting his arm and camera in front [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 8th, 2010
I didn’t really understand how Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is such a holy place before undertaking this excursion. The history of the village is closely linked with Provencal religious beliefs and those of Catholics everywhere. The story of the persecuted Mary Salome, Mary Jacobe, and Mary Magdalene is that they were set adrift on a boat without sails [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Jun 1st, 2010
We began our trip to the Gypsy Pilgrimage with a drive from Var, traveling west in the director of Arles. Arles is a city of Gypsy culture, and if you remember from my past posts, it was a gathering place for the Gypsies as they began their trip down the ancient road to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Perhaps [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on May 28th, 2010
I missed my post last week because I was at the Gypsy Pilgrimage without internet service! Here is the schedule of events that took place during the three day celebration:
May 24th
10:00 a.m Mass to celebrate the opening of the Pilgrimage
3:30 p.m. Ceremony of lowering the reliquaries
4:00 p.m Procession of Saint Sara
8:30 p.m. Prayers
May 25th
8:00 a.m. [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on May 18th, 2010
Every May 24th and 25th, the Gypsies gather in southern France to observe a yearly ritual of celebrating their patron saint, Sara the Kali. This year, I have planned my life in advance so that I can witness this annual event. The destination of the Pilgrimage is the small village of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the south [...]
Posted in Uncategorized on Feb 1st, 2010
The city of Arles in the south of France has long been a place where the Gypsy people have gathered. Serge, the author, invokes images of Gypsies and torredors under a pagan sky through which the sounds of flutes and Spanish tambourines resonate. He describes their yearly pilgrimage to Saints-Marie [...]