The sun is finally shining — just in the nick of time, because today marks the last day of Les Saints de Glace.
According to French tradition, Les Saints de Glace — Saint Mamert, Saint Pancrace, and Saint Servais (celebrated on May 11, 12, and 13) — represent the lingering cold and final frosts of winter. For generations, gardeners have believed it is best to wait until after the “Ice Saints” have passed before planting delicate flowers and vegetables.
In 1960, as part of broader liturgical reforms, the Roman Catholic Church removed these saints from the official calendar in an effort to simplify and modernize the feast days observed by the Church. But while their formal religious status changed, the tradition itself endured. Across France, Les Saints de Glace remain deeply woven into rural life and seasonal folklore, especially in farming and gardening communities where weather wisdom is passed down through generations.
Even today, villages and small towns still mark the occasion with local fêtes, music, food, and wine — a quiet acknowledgment that folk traditions often outlast official decrees.
To mark the occasion myself, I finally planted my flower boxes, which had been sitting empty since my arrival.
A quick trip to the flower market…
et voila! They’re a little sparse, but I’m certain they’ll fill in nicely.
I love your blog. What a wonderful work you`ve done. All is just right. The tone, the anecdotes,concise and pertinent, the photos. It makes one long for Paris.isa