Sara, the patron saint of the Romany people of France also known as gipsies), is the subject of two legends. Sara was the servant girl of Marie Jacobe, the Blessed Virgin Mary's niece, according to one storey. Marie Jacobe and Marie Solome, the mothers of the apostles James and John, joined Jesus' disciples from Bethany (Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary), Joseph of Arimathea, and Mary Magdalene out of Palestine after Jesus' crucifixion. The festival is known as La Fete des Saintes Maries in French and is celebrated between May 24th and 25th every year.
When they arrived at the sea, the party set sail, but Sara remained behind. Sara began to weep, and Marie Jacobe responded by casting her mantle upon the waves and dragging her onboard their small boat. Sara then led the boat to its destination—Camargue, Provence—with the help of an angel (France). Marie Jacobe, Marie Salome, and Sara stayed at the landing site and evangelized the locals while the other parties dispersed.
Sara was a Romany queen in the other version of the novel.
She greeted the party from Palestine and was baptized by the two Maries. They
were converted to Christianity after she revealed them to the other gypsy
chiefs. She oversaw their burial on the spot where the Church of Notre Dame de
la Mer would later be constructed after they died. This location was previously
used for Pagan worship. The three women's remains are still thought to be in
the cathedral. Sara is not considered an official saint since she was never canonized
by the Roman Catholic Church. Her tomb is located in the cellar of the
cathedral.
Meanwhile, the two Maries' remains are kept in the upper
chapel. On their reliquary, scenes from their lives have been drawn. Romany
people from all over Europe get to flock to Provence in mid-May for the annual
celebrations of Sara (May 24) and the two Maries (May 25) at Notre Dame de la
Mer. The field surrounding the church transforms into a vast campground, where
casual parties, song, dancing, and general merriment take place.
The pilgrimage's aim, however, is to honor the two Maries,
especially Sara, who is revered as the mother of the Gypsies and is thought to
be an Egyptian from whom the Gypsies get their common name. They'll make time
during their stay to kneel before her shrine and light a candle. They'll dress
the statue in new clothes and leave a variety of offerings—thanks for prayers answered
and wishes for prayers left unanswered.
A statue of Sara is brought from its permanent resting place
in the church basement to the main sanctuary on the first day of formal events,
and the reliquary of the two Maries is also lowered from the upper chapel.
Members of the assembled congregation try to touch the reliquary as it finds
its spot. The Mass for the day begins with songs dedicated to the two Maries.
Following the Mass, Sara's statue is taken to a local beach for a blessing
ceremony.
The statues of the two Maries will be taken to the shore for
a similar blessing ritual on the second day. Some young local girls dressed in
traditional regional attire will lead the procession to the port. The
archbishop of Aix en Provence will follow behind the statues. From a boat just
offshore, he will perform the ritual blessing the waters that took the two
Maries to Provence.
Sara and the reliquary of the two Maries will be returned to
their permanent resting place at the closing ceremonies at the cathedral, as
the gathered chant: Great Saintes Maries, we are about to abandon you.
Intercede for us before God, so that he will protect our souls and bodies, and
so that he will assist us in becoming better people. Many people would take
water from the well in the church's middle. The water is said to have healing
properties.
