Oëlleville Explained

Oëlleville
Commune Status:Commune
Image Coat Of Arms:Blason Oelleville.svg
Arrondissement:Épinal
Canton:Mirecourt
Insee:88334
Postal Code:88500
Mayor:Yveline Herbelot[1]
Term:2020 - 2026
Intercommunality:CC Mirecourt Dompaire
Coordinates:48.3353°N 6.0208°W
Elevation M:364
Elevation Min M:308
Elevation Max M:391
Area Km2:10.08

Oëlleville (in French pronounced as /ɔɛlvil/) is a commune in the Vosges department in Grand Est in northeastern France.

Inhabitants are called Oëllevillois.

Geography

The commune is positioned at the confluence of various minor roads approximately 10km (10miles) to the west-north-west of Mirecourt and a slightly longer distance to the north-north-east of Vittel. Over 12% of the commune land is forested.

Tradition

The village makes a particular feature of the feast of St Nicholas on December 6. Each year a member of the community, chosen for his imposing physique and the steely firmness of his eyes, is selected to dress up as The Saint, who is accompanied by Père Fouettard (better known to some English speakers as Hans Trapp in Alsace or Zwarte Piet in Flanders) with his own bag of less welcome seasonal gifts. A procession and other seasonal gift related celebrations and rituals ensue.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Répertoire national des élus: les maires. data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 9 August 2021. fr.