Saint Catherine Fair of Hornoy-le-Bourg

Saint Catherine, late autumn fair

Saint Catherine's Day, celebrated on November 25, is one of the great celebrations of the traditional French calendar, particularly in the countryside. Patron saint of unmarried young women (the famous Catherinettes), she is also associated with the end of autumn agricultural work and the beginning of winter. In many rural French towns, and especially in the Somme, Saint Catherine gave rise to great village fairs.

Hornoy-le-Bourg, canton capital of the Picard plateau

Hornoy-le-Bourg is a Somme town located on the Picard plateau, halfway between Amiens and the Bresle valley, near the Vimeu and Norman borders. Former canton capital, the town retains an active center with its shops, church and some beautiful old buildings.

A multi-faceted fair

The Saint Catherine Fair of Hornoy-le-Bourg is typical of great Picard communal fairs in its composite nature. You'll find fairground merchants presenting their goods (clothing, textiles, tools, leather goods), local and regional craftsmen (charcuterie, cheeses, honey, jams, bakery), and individuals using the opportunity to empty their attics.

The Saint Catherine's pot and local traditions

Traditionally, Saint Catherine's Day also marks the moment in the countryside when trees are planted: Saint Catherine, all wood takes root, says the popular saying. Some Picard fairs also retain the ritual of the drink offered by the municipality or the organizing association.

An outing between Picard plateau and Bresle valley

For visitors, the Saint Catherine Fair is an opportunity to discover a corner of the Somme less frequented by traditional tourism. Hornoy-le-Bourg is ideally located to explore the steep valleys of the Poix and Evoissons, the forests of the Picard plateau, or extend to the Bresle valley famous for its glass industry.