In Boulbon, Bouches-du-Rhône, every June 1st at 7pm, the village priest leads an all-male procession from the Saint-Joseph church to the Saint Marcellin chapel, a gem of Romanesque architecture. The procession is accompanied by a reliquary bust of Saint Marcellin and a Provencal band.
Everyone carries a bottle of their best wine, which they uncork at the end of the ceremony. The parish priest sings prayers and solemnly blesses the wine. Everyone then toasts and drinks a glassful before returning, spirit purified, to the village where the festivities continue.
The precious liquid will be used to soothe fevers and illnesses until next June.
Tradition has it that in 304, Marcellin, a priest from Rome, was thrown into a dungeon with Peter the exorcist. He fell on some pottery and was lifted up by an angel. Marcellin picked up an amphora shard stained with blood, raised it to heaven and said, “Lord, I offer this to you as a sacrifice”. A miracle then occurred, with Marcellin holding an amphora of miraculous wine in its place...
Tradition also has it that this procession was instituted by the monks of Montmajour, who had undertaken to drain the marshes. The wine is said to have cured fevers.
Saint-Marcellin is also invoked to obtain rain. As the popular saying goes, “Sant marcellin bon per l'aigo, bon per lou vin”, “Saint-Marcellin is good for water and good for wine”.
Boulbon Town Hall
Place Victor Barberin,
13150 Boulbon
