Our always excellent local paper La Provence posted on Instagram about a tradition that has taken place on the first Sunday of September for centuries – the blessing of the traditional local almond sweet les calissons.
In 1630 Aix was suffering from the plague and they prayed to Notre Dame de la Seds for help and after the Mass they gave out calissons and Aix was saved from the plague.
So once a year, the archbishop blesses 2,000 calissons and they are given out to the people of Aix.
It was a very enjoyable spectacle to watch pass through the central streets of Aix.
Even if all the participants didn’t seem to be enjoying it as much.
Thrown to (the) Lyon 