Christmas: Jesus was born in Bessans!

At Christmas, Bessanais sing this verse in a large living crib depicting the birth of Jesus. A verse that is only a small part of a patois Christmas carol written in Haute Maurienne over two centuries ago.

The tradition of Christmas carols dates back to the 16th century, when the famous "mysteries" were banned in Paris. These large-scale plays, often lasting several days, depicted scenes from the Bible. These mysteries provided a clear and simple way of teaching the Catholic religion. After they were banned, the songs took over this function. Some songs were even mimed.

"Christmas carols in dialect exist everywhere in Occitanie and Rhône-Alpes. But Bessans holds a special place in the world of traditional song. Local carols are plentiful, and we're lucky enough to have recordings made nearly half a century ago by a couple visiting the village. For example, we have a rare Savoyard polyphonic credo," assures Péroline Barbet, researcher at the Villeurbanne-based Centre des Musiques Traditionnelles Rhône-Alpes.

The richness of Bessans' oral heritage has long been recognized. At the end of the 19th century, Julien Tiersot, an envoy from the Ministry of Public Instruction, came to Savoie to collect sacred and secular songs. His visit to Bessans made a particular impression on him, even though he encountered a few difficulties before being granted a concert: "I remember in particular a tall girl who had been designated as having the most beautiful voice in the country, and with whom negotiations were particularly difficult: in truth, she began by rejecting my request with as much indignation as if I had spoken dishonest words to her! What's more, I was in misfortune: on the appointed day, a singer who had given me his word was arrested by the gendarmes for smuggling. An ordinary adventure, but one which, whenever it happens, nonetheless gives the population a momentary cause for concern.

When the songs ceased to be sung, the air was gradually lost. Some of these songs may have been brought by priests from France or by peddlers. But some were composed on the spot, as evidenced by the many references to local geography and traditions. Thus, in these local songs in patois, the infant Jesus is honored by the villagers who bring him typical Maurienne gifts: cheese, butter, lamb, game... Moreover, according to these songs, the child was not born in Bethlehem as the official story goes, but in "la grange du Carrelay" (le Carrelet), in l'Esseillon (between Aussois and Avrieux) or in Belley...

In her book "Bessans chante Noël, chants sacrés, chansons profanes", Jeanne Ratel lists no fewer than 51 different songs, 44 in French and 6 in the "Bessans language". If there are so many texts, it's because they weren't all intended to be sung on December 24 and 25. In fact, the songs cover the entire Christmas season.

There are songs for the various Christmas masses (midnight mass, dawn mass and day mass), then for all the religious feasts that follow the birth of Jesus: songs in honor of Saint Stephen, Saint John the Evangelist, for the circumcision of Christ (on the eighth day after birth, as required by the Jewish religion), for the Three Wise Men...