Animal totems

Plunge into the imaginary world of legends and mythical beasts.

This tradition dates back to the 16th century and in the South of France we love tales and legends.

These animals are actually made of cloth and canvas and carried by men. They symbolise village unity and protect the community. They are paraded from village to village and from the sea to the mountains, each beast with a fascinating story to tell.

You can see various animal totem parades such as the Gignac donkey, the opening of the Scènes d'Eté or the Roujan hedgehog which are all held on Ascension Day. There is also the Mèze bull parade on the 15th August, the Montagnac goat, the Loupian wolf and the Béziers camel (in occitan: lou camel) at the Saint Aphrodise festival in late April and at the Féria processions in late August and many others besides.

These carnivals are unique to the Hérault, with each village parading its own animal totem as a symbol of the local community. You can discover the fantastic legends and the traditions of these lands while munching oreillettes.

Wonderful stories to share with all the family.