Millau recovers Saint Anne’s Day traditions
Special celebrations took place in the leather- and glove-making town of Millau in southern France on July 26 as industry leaders resurrected the old tradition of celebrating the feast of Saint Anne, patron saint of glovers.
Representatives of glove manufacturers, small-skin tanners and their suppliers took part in religious and cultural events to celebrate the date and local bakers baked a local artisan delicacy, a sweet pastry called the ‘fouace aveyronnaise’, for the occasion.
Reviving the celebrations is part of an ambitious bid to gain formal inclusion for the glove-making traditions of Millau on the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Work on the bid will continue until UNESCO makes a decision in March 22.
Olivier Fabre, master glove- maker, fourth-generation managing director of Maison Fabre and president of the local leather industry body, is leading force for the campaign. Restarting the celebrations of Saint Anne’s Day was his initiative.
Mr Fabre suffered a scooter accident in middle of the preparations and had to spend several days in hospital in June. Fortunately, he was well enough to attend the events on the feast day, the first time he has been able to venture out since the accident.
Image shows ‘fouaces aveyronnaises’ and tools used in local glove-manufacturing on display during the celebrations in the church of Sacré-Coeur in Millau.
