Santa Sara Festival
Every year, on May 24th and 25th, hundreds of Romani families converge upon Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, a small town in the Camargue region of Southern France. They come to honor the patron saint of the Gypsies, Saint Sarah the Black, whose relics are kept within the town’s ancient church.
These are days of vibrant celebration, where the Romani people display their culture and traditions with defiant pride. On May 24th, the statue of the Saint is carried in a solemn procession down to the Mediterranean. Accompanied by religious officials and the gardians (Camargue cowboys) on horseback, the Saint meets a dense crowd gathered on the shore—many standing knee-deep in the waves. There, amidst growing emotion, the community awaits the completion of the cathartic rite, purifying their souls for the year to come.
(c) Mario Mariniello 2022.
