Fête de la Saint-Mammès

The Fête de la Saint-Mammès, Treigny's patronal festival in Puisaye

Every year, on the first Sunday of September, the village of Treigny (89520) celebrates its Fête de la Saint-Mammès, its patronal festival. This village festival, organized by the local festival committee, is held under the patronage of Saint Mammès, a 3rd-century Christian martyr to whom one of the most beautiful churches in the commune is dedicated: the Saint-Mammès church of Perreuse, a Romanesque and Renaissance gem of Puisaye-Forterre.

The Fête de la Saint-Mammès is one of the highlights of local life in Treigny, a commune in Puisaye-Forterre—a land of hedgerows, ponds, forests, and clay stretching west of the Yonne department—and an anticipated event for the entire region. It perpetuates an ancient festive and devotional tradition, that of village patronal festivals which honor the patron saint of the parish and celebrate community life in a spirit of conviviality and sharing.

Saint Mammès: the martyr patron saint of Treigny

Saint Mammès (or Mammet, Mammès) was a Christian martyr who lived in the 3rd century in Cappadocia (modern-day Turkey). According to hagiographical tradition, he was put to death around 275 by Roman authorities for refusing to renounce his faith. His legend, very popular in the Middle Ages, made him a revered saint in many regions of France, particularly in Burgundy. His first name, of Greek etymology (mamme, 'grandmother'), testifies to his childhood marked by the faith of his mother Sophrone, who also died for her faith.

The liturgical feast of Saint Mammès is celebrated on August 17th in the Catholic calendar. However, the patronal festival of Treigny, in local popular tradition, is set for the first Sunday of September, a date that in the past, after the harvests, allowed for the celebration of the end of agricultural work and the arrival of autumn in an atmosphere of gratitude and conviviality.

The Saint-Mammès church of Perreuse: an architectural gem

At the heart of the patronal festival lies the Saint-Mammès church of Perreuse, one of the most remarkable testaments to the architectural heritage of Puisaye-Forterre. This exceptional building stands out for the richness of its history and architecture:

• A 12th-century Romanesque choir, sober and slender, a testament to the church's early construction period
• A 16th-century Renaissance nave, built after the destructions of the Wars of Religion
• Wall paintings discovered in 1997 during archaeological work, placing the church on the circuit of buildings with wall paintings in Puisaye

The church was looted by the Huguenots in 1587 during the Wars of Religion and suffered centuries of gradual deterioration. In 1667, the Grande Demoiselle—Anne-Marie-Louise d'Orléans, granddaughter of Henry IV and cousin of Louis XIV, who held the title of Baroness of Perreuse—made a significant donation for the restoration of the building. Today, the Fondation du Patrimoine supports the restoration of the church's stained-glass windows, weakened by years and weather.

Treigny, a village of potters in Puisaye

Treigny is a commune in Puisaye-Forterre, a region in the western part of the Yonne department, not far from Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye and Saint-Fargeau. The commune, now merged with Perreuse and Sainte-Colombe under the name Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe, has about 800 inhabitants and belongs to the community of communes Puisaye-Forterre.

Puisaye is a region of great natural and heritage richness: bocage landscapes, ponds, oak forests, medieval castles, and a ceramic and pottery tradition dating back several centuries. Treigny is one of the centers of this artisanal tradition: the Marché des Potiers de Treigny (Treigny Potters' Market), held annually in July, is one of the most renowned pottery markets in France and attracts thousands of visitors. This artistic and artisanal heritage deeply marks the village's identity.

Furthermore, Puisaye was the birthplace of the writer Colette, whose childhood home is in Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye, a few kilometers from Treigny. This literary past and the artistic sensibility that permeates the region give the Fête de la Saint-Mammès a cultural dimension that goes beyond a simple village gathering.

The festival: conviviality and popular tradition

The Fête de la Saint-Mammès is above all a popular festival, in the noblest sense of the term: it belongs to all the inhabitants of Treigny and Puisaye, without distinction of age or origin, and takes place in a spirit of conviviality, sharing, and respect for local traditions.

The festival committee organizes a festive day or evening each year with a program including: popular entertainment, games and activities for families, food and drink featuring local products, a friendly bar, and festive musical entertainment. The festival may also include a flea market or an artisan market, in keeping with the tradition of patronal festivals in Puisaye.

Why come to the Fête de la Saint-Mammès?

• Participate in an authentic patronal festival in one of the most beautiful villages of Puisaye-Forterre
• Discover the Saint-Mammès church of Perreuse, a Romanesque and Renaissance gem with medieval wall paintings
• Visit Treigny, a renowned village of potters, and its bocage, ponds, and forests
• Enjoy an early September day in the preserved setting of Puisaye
• Combine the festival with a visit to the Château de Saint-Fargeau or Colette's house in Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye
• Experience the tradition of Burgundian patronal festivals in their most authentic dimension