Pardons in Brittany have their origins in pre-Christian rites. They are held on the feast day of the patron saint of a village. They are most often held at the parish church, although they can also be held outside in woodland, on moors or on the cliffs. Many are pilgrimages and involve vows, prayers and observances made by the participants. Unfortunately, one of the most remarkable pardons is now a thing of the past. This used to be held on the edge of the forest of Dualt ('black hill' from Breton: du, ‘dark’, black’ [Old Cornish: duw; Welsh: du ] and Old Breton: alt, ‘hill’ [Breton: aod; Old Cornish: alt; Welsh: allt ] ) and attracted 17,000 pilgrims or more from Ouimper and Vannes , the two adversaries at this pardon. Saint Servais, or Gelvest in Breton, was invoked here on May 13th every year to protect crops from late frosts. On the night before, men and women arrived in troops, the men armed with staffs and cudgels. The story now continues as ...
The Origins and Place Names of Brittany