Be it in honor of the harvest or the ancient traditions of the Occitan language, there is always a reason to celebrate in the Dordogne. When you live in a fairy tale, why not?! On June 24, la fete de St Jean heralds the arrival of Summer and one of the sweetest traditions of the Perigord is the making of crosses out of wild flowers to adorn entree doors or barns (to protect the livestock it is said).
THis photo was taken by our friend Roland Manouvrier who made his own cross out of wild flowers. He was a bit miffed at his fellow St Leon neighbors who had not taken such care as he had. "Many of them just made them from their garden flowers" he complained.
I asked him if it really mattered, what kind of flowers, and wasn't the sentiment the same, maybe people don't have time these days to search for wildflowers? "NO!" "You must frolic in the hills and appreciate the liberty and freedom of finding the wild flowers".
Ah, life in a fairy tale.
