- Image
Fête des rosières de 1989, les époux au balcon de la maison des rosières
- ImageSortie des rosières de la mairie en 1919
- ImageRosière portant la tenue traditionnelle
- ImageCoiffe traditionnelle des rosières
- ImageDétail de la tenue traditionnelle des rosières
- ImageMariage de rosières, célébration à la mairie
- ImageLa maison des Rosières
Share
The fête des rosières is held on the first weekend of September in La Mothe-Saint-Héray. This is the local adaptation of a tradition that was widespread in the 18th century, which involved rewarding a particularly well-respected young woman on her wedding day.
In La Mothe-Saint-Héray, the festival was created by Charles Benjamin Chameau at the start of the 19th century. He left his entire estate to an institution that continues to ensure that the event is held. Every year, three Rosières were chosen from the poorest Catholic residents of the town. Today, as the candidates are more rare, a single Rosière is celebrated and receives the dowry.
On the day of the festivities, the bride is done up in the traditional Mothe headdress. After exchanging consent at the town hall and then the church, the couple is presented to the public from the balcony of the maison des Rosières.
A ball and fairground liven up the festivities, to which the people of the town are invited for the three days.
