This December, the Minett UNESCO Biosphere teamed up with the CNCI (Centre National de la Culture Industrielle) on the educational project ‘Bärbelendag mat de Kanner’ by offering workshops focusing on Saint Barbara in primary schools in Esch.

The project is all about keeping the memory of Luxembourg’s mining traditions alive by using the figure of Saint Barbara, who is the patron saint of miners. The students get to know the symbols, rituals and values of this important celebration — memory, solidarity, courage, gratitude — while creating their own works of art.

Our workshops were led by graphic designer Isabelle Mattern. After listening to the story of Saint Barbara, the kids made a collage to show what her life was like, using prints made with a Riso printer. The kids recreated the tower where she lived and illustrated the cut branch of a fruit tree.

 

Saint Barbara is also a symbol of fertility

This part of the Barbara tradition is less well known in our region, but has been an integral part of Barbara Day in many regions of Central Europe, especially along the Rhine, since the Middle Ages. This part of the tradition surrounding Saint Barbara is still practised today in Alsace and Lorraine: on 4 December, branches from fruit trees, usually cherry trees, are cut and placed in water. According to tradition, if these branches bloom on Christmas Day, it is a sign of good luck and fertility in the coming year.

To highlight the rich botanical diversity of our region, the children illustrated not only branches from fruit trees, but also regional orchids, which are key species in the dry meadows of the core zones of our biosphere reserve.

Conclusion of the workshops

Following the workshops in the schools, the children will take part in the procession in honour of Saint Barbara in Esch-sur-Alzette on 4 December.