The 13 Christmas desserts of Provence

Do you have any idea what you want to eat for dessert for Christmas dinner? Do you want to have something really special this year? Then try the Provencal Christmas tradition! In Provence the ‘13 Christmas desserts of Provence’ are really popular already since the nineteenth century. Originally the 13 Christmas desserts of Provence are the symbol for the Last Supper with Jesus surrounded by his 12 apostles. The desserts vary by city but every family chooses 13 Provencal Christmas desserts with regard to those symbols.

The dried fruit of the '13 Christmas desserts of Provence’ symbolize the religious beggars and the color of their robes

• nuts or hazelnuts for the Augustinians
• almonds for the Carmelites
• dried figs for the Franciscans
• raisins for the Dominicans
  

The fresh fruit from Africa of the 13 Christmas desserts of Provence are symbolic for the Three Kings

• oranges, mandarins or clementines
• dates (they can be filled with pink or green marzipan)
• Verdaù (green melon stored in the grain)
• fresh grapes
• winter pears
• apples

• white nougat with hazelnuts, pine nuts, pistachios and black nougat
• pompe à l'huile, a brioche soaked in olive oil is one of the 13 Christmas desserts of Provence.

According to tradition, you break the bread - just as Christ broke the bread – and do not cut it to not get ruined in the new year.
This traditional recipe is also delicious with orange blossom water (La Fougasse d'Aigues Mortes)