The Provençal tradition of Petite Maïo continues in Sainte-Maxime

The Provençal tradition of Petite Maïo from Marseille is once again being perpetuated in the land of Maxime this May ^1st . Emerging from a lily-of-the-valley bell, little Sara Afonso, 7 years old, is given the role of "Queen of May" (and not, as erroneously indicated on the city's websites, Elena Strangio, who was in... 2020!).

"It's about choosing a girl who has all the required qualities of kindness and helpfulness," describes a member of the Magnoti on the sidelines of the mass which is held at 10 a.m. with a performance by Arlette Dupin, the association's seamstress and a leading figure in the parish choir.

Parental pride

The time comes for Sara to leave the church under a radiant, even dazzling, sun, all dressed in white silk and crowned with equally immaculate flowers.

"She really deserves to be Little Maïo this year, she's a truly adorable little girl!" confirms father Nicolas as he puts the student from the Siméon-Fabre school into the carriage that will drop her off at Place Victor-Hugo to open the dance.

"This choice makes me particularly happy. To tell you the truth, my daughter was born into tradition. I was already participating in the association's activities when I was pregnant!" confides mother Annabelle between two traditional choreographies punctuated by fifes and drums from Maxime, Plantourian, and also those from Vence.

Family History

Alongside Sara is her ten-year-old older brother Sandro, who discreetly plays the knight in shining armour. A testament to how the longevity of these ancestral traditions is also a family affair!

While the dancing stops by the seaside, the carriage continues its journey towards the community center. It's time for a lunch break before returning to the seaside theater for another performance in the middle of the afternoon, and the unveiling of the raffle winner, who will leave with a beautiful doll bearing the image of the day's heroine, made by Lei Magnoti "couture."