Breton Pardons

Come closer to this elegant granite fountain and picture the little square filled with pilgrims… along with dozens of oxen and cows brought in from the surrounding countryside! Built in 1661, this fountain was once one of the main stops during the Pardon of Saint Cornély.

But before we go any further, you may be wondering what exactly a Breton pardon is. It’s an annual religious festival held in honor of the patron saint of a parish or chapel. Depending on the place, people may come to ask for protection for sailors, recovery from illness, good harvests, or, as here in Carnac, the health of their livestock.

After Mass, a procession usually brings the community together around crosses, banners, and sometimes relics of the saint. A pardon is part pilgrimage, part popular festival, and above all an important local gathering. In the past, farmers in Carnac brought their oxen and cows to this fountain and sprinkled a little of its water over their heads, hoping to protect them from disease and ensure the prosperity of the herd.

In a society where oxen were essential for plowing the fields, and where the health of the livestock could determine whether a family survived, this blessing was taken very seriously. Times have changed, but the Pardon of Saint Cornély has never disappeared. It is still celebrated on the second Sunday of September.

Large herds of cattle are much less common today, but local residents, horses, and other four-legged companions continue to keep this old Carnac tradition alive. Similar celebrations exist elsewhere, but pardons have taken on a particularly important role in Brittany, where nearly 2,000 are still held every year.