Gateau, gateau, and more gateau

Max had beaucoup, beaucoup cake today! After taking the big kids to school this morning, we headed out to Max's soccer practice. The coach had asked me to bring a cake to today's practice to celebrate the end of the year. When we arrived at practice, we were told that it was too cold (-4 C this morning) for practice so we would just meet in the soccer club building for hot chocolate and cake. I didn't realize until we got in there that the coach had asked every parent to bring a cake! Those 25 kids had 25 cakes!! It was complete bedlam! The French people with children crowd seem to be very into gateau. They are just simple cakes like an 8x8 size or a one layer round cake without icing but they are served at many occasions. They are cut and served to be eaten with the hands. Seems to be more popular than cookies. Anyway, Max had a great time running around with his friends, Calvin had a few friends there also so it was a good time. After coming home for lunch and to meet the big kids getting off the bus, I took Max to a friend's birthday party. He stayed for 3 hours playing games, playing with Legos and eating more gateau! Life is good when you're 6! Calvin headed out to basketball practice this evening and after playing for an hour, they were served chips, gateau and soda to celebrate their end of the year! The adults were served champagne so Josh made out well compared to my bad coffee from the soccer party!
Calvin got his report card today and with more than 40 grades listed, he had almost all "A's". He's really doing well. He is really my "go-to" man when I have a question about French. He has the accent down pat! In fact, last night when Josh called to say he was on his way home from work, Calvin answered the phone with a beautiful "Bonjour". Josh promptly hung up, thinking that he had dialed the wrong number!!
Does anyone know what these little figures are about? We often see them in little niches above the front door of the homes in our area.