 A santon ( Provençal : " little saint " ) is a small hand @-@ painted , terracotta nativity scene figurine produced in the Provence region of southeastern France . In a traditional Provençal crèche , the santons represent various characters from Provençal village life such as the scissors grinder , the fishwife , and the chestnut seller . The figurines were first created during the French Revolution when churches were forcibly closed and large nativity scenes prohibited . Today , their production is a family affair passed from parents to children . During the Christmas season , santon makers gather in Marseille and other locales in southeastern France to display and sell their wares . 
