French character. Barbizier appeared for the first time in Franche-Comté, more particularly in Besançon, in the 17th century, as a poor wine grower from the Battant neighbourhood. Barbizier is part of the set of the Bisontine nativity scene, a popular puppet show presented in dialect at Christmas time throughout the region. The shows attracted crowds that viewed this character as a humble representative of their people and their faith instead of a dissenting spokesperson. As time went by this tradition faded and Barbizier did not find his way into dramatic works in the following centuries.

(See France, Nativity Scenes.)