At the time that my villager found the cauldron, a festival took place and the pot has disappeared. It isn't on the fire, as it should be, and I can't see it anywhere. My villager isn't walking around with it, as far as I can see. It this a bug? Will I need to start over? Or do I just need to watch and see if it shows up somewhere?

I just left the game and came back and Voila! le pot returned.