Santons

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Small figurines, often made of clay, traditionally associated with the Christmas nativity scene
2. Collectible representations of characters that can include saints or peasants in the context of Provençal culture
3. Decorative items that may be used for display or educational purposes, illustrating local customs and traditions

Etymology: Santons are the small painted clay figures of Provençal Christmas cribs, and the name is a loan from French, which took it from Spanish. In Spanish, "santón" is an augmentative of "santo" ("saint"), so the word literally suggests a large or venerable saint. Its meaning shifted in French and Provençal toward the miniature figures themselves, the reverse of what the ending once implied: a term for a grand holy figure became a name for something pocket-sized. The plural form "santons" simply marks the many figures in a crib scene. Because the word came into Provençal culture through French, it carries the Spanish root without the Provençal spelling that might otherwise have been expected.