les sainte maries de la mer

Saint Sara’s Final Procession to the Sea

Saint Sara’s Final Procession to the Sea

This time, we came face-to-face with the same head priest who had lead the procession the day before. As before, he was blessing the pilgrims along his processional route. He was followed by men riding atop beautiful white horses. The men on horses parted the crowds, allowing the statue of the Two Marys to pass through, toward the sea. I thought this curious that the third Mary, Our Lady Mary Magdalene, was not represented as well . . .

The Procession of Saint Sara

The Procession of Saint Sara

Celice and I awoke in excited anticipation for the day’s events, as if children on Christmas morning.

We quickly readied ourselves for the walk into town. The streets were lined with parked campers and horses stood in stalls awaiting riders.The outskirts of town were calmly buzzing with the hum of gypsy music. As we approached the center of town, we entered the festivities. There, it was packed with people: tourists, gypsies, free spirits, photographers, and those anticipating a little piece of magic . . .

The Gypsy Festival of Les Maries

The Gypsy Festival of Les Maries

As Provençal legend has it, Mary Magdalene arrived on the shores of Gaul with Mary Salome and Mary Jacobe, and possibly Joseph of Armithea. The mystery and intrigue of this legend involves a woman named Saint Sara. Some claim she was a native of Gaul who greeted the party fleeing the Roman Empire. Others say she arrived on the boat with the Marys, either an Egyptian handmaiden to Mary Magdalene, or better yet, the secret daughter of Jesus and Mary. Either way, Saint Sara has become the patron saint of the Romani people the world round, and I was headed there for the annual festival in honor of Saint Sara . . .