Comps Provencal Nativity Scene Marks 20 Years With Special Edition

Comps Provencal Nativity Scene 20th Anniversary, Digi Mart USA News (Comps, Gard, France): The Provencal nativity scene in Comps will open its doors for its 20th edition from November 21, 2026 to January 17, 2027. For the occasion, the village church will once again be transformed into a Christmas setting combining hundreds of santons, the traditional Provencal clay figures, with Provencal traditions.

The exhibition began in 2007, when Romain Rodriguez, then 18 years old, opened the doors of his village church with the idea of sharing his passion for santons, nativity scenes and Christmas traditions that had accompanied him since childhood. Lacking a suitable exhibition space in Comps, he turned to the church to host the project.

Over the years, the nativity scene has grown to include a personal collection of santons assembled since childhood, along with creations by Romain Rodriguez, who became a professional santon maker in 2016. Since its creation, the exhibition has welcomed more than 80,000 visitors.

To celebrate its twentieth anniversary, the Provencal nativity scene in Comps will present a special edition from November 21, 2026 to January 17, 2027. The centerpiece in the church choir will be the traditional large Provencal nativity scene, featuring hundreds of santons, and this year’s theme is The Village: Humanity.

Highlights of the anniversary edition will also include two evenings titled The Night of the Santons, held on December 11 and 18, 2026.

“I never imagined, at 18, that this adventure would last twenty years. Even today, I approach each edition with the same desire: to share a tradition I deeply love and to let visitors dream for a moment away from everyday life,” says Romain Rodriguez.

On Saturday, November 21, 2026, the Provencal nativity scene in Comps will officially kick off its 20th edition in the presence of Monsignor Nicolas Brouwet, Bishop of Nimes, Uzes and Ales.