Christmas traditions in France: Saint Nicolas has arrived!

Who brings gifts to children at Christmas?Not just Santa Claus on December 25th! In some Italian regions it is Saint Lucia who brings gifts, in other countries it is the Magi Kings. In some regions of France (and not only), gifts come fromSaint-Nicolas,in Italian San Nicola.

Who was it?Saint Nicolasand why is it so famous in France?

Saint Nicholas was a Roman bishop from Patara in Lycia, the province of the Roman Empire in modern - day Turkey. Lived between the third and fourth centuries, he became bishop of Myra, another city of Lycia, until his death in the same place. For this reason he is known as Saint Nicholas of Myre, while the patron saint Saint Nicholas of Bari derives from the maritime expedition that, in 1087, led the relics of the saint in the city of Bari.

Venerable as a saint in Christianity, Saint Nicholas gained fame in Europe thanks to the stories of merchants and pilgrims, becoming a symbol of protection, goodness and charity. The cult and traditions ofSaint Nicolasin France they are particularly rooted in the north and east of the country, especially inLorraine,where St. Nicholas is patron saint.

Saint Nicolas' popularity is linked to numerous legends, some particularly known in France.

The legend of the three childrenis the most famous: Three children were lost in the fields and asked Pierre Lenoir, a butcher, for hospitality. But the latter deceived the children and took their lives by putting them in brine. Seven years later, at the edge of his donkey,Saint NicolasHe would knock at the butcher's door and ask for meat in the brine to feed himself. Once the barrel was opened and the saint realized the deception, he would save the three children by bringing them back to life.
For this reasonSaint Nicolasis considered as a protector of children,and his party is especially dedicated to the little ones.

By virtue of this legend,Saint Nicolasis often represented on board a donkey and accompanied by the dark figure ofPère Fouettard (Father Frustino),That's the evil butcher. This counterbalances the goodness of the saint and, armed with whip, punishes the most brazen children. In other representations it is replaced byKrampusAustro-Germans, also widespread in Italy, especially in Trentino-Alto Adige.

Another well known legend is that of"three daughters":A father in poverty had no more money to offer his three daughters a dowry, without which they could not marry. St. Nicholas thus left, through the window, three golden spheres or, according to other versions, three golden bags. This story made it a symbol of charity and protection for the needy, and contributed to the tradition of the sock or shoe left outside the window to receive the gifts of the saint. In addition to sweets and chocolates, it is very common for French children to receive oranges and mandarins forSaint Nicolas,spherical and luminous as the spheres offered by the saint. Or at least, in France it was!

How to celebrate theSaint NicolasFrance?

In the major cities of Eastern France the arrival of the saint is accompanied by majestic parades and artistic festivals on the days before December 6.

Two of Europe’s most famous parades take place in Nancy and Metz, including musical events, allegorical floats and pyrotechnic games. Very felt is also thetorchlighthouse of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port,in Lorraine. Thousands of people parade with candles and lanterns in honor of the saint, giving life to one of the most felt events in France, also thanks to the presence of the basilica dedicated to Saint Nicolas.

But above all... what you eat for theSaint Nicholas?

Like any party that respects itself,Saint Nicolasis synonymous with candy, chocolate and candy. In the night between 5 and 6 December, it is traditional to leave at the window a sock or shoe that will be filled with gifts "to eat".

From the European figure ofSaint NicolasderiveSinterklass,very popular in the Netherlands,and laterSanta Clausin the Anglo-Saxon countries. Saint Nicholas is in fact represented with a coat and a long white beard just like today’sPère Noël (Christmas Father),and also the tradition of offering gifts within a stocking is associated with the most modern tradition.

Other typical sweets of theSaint Nicolasare:

• iManele,Brioche men often garnished with raisins, chocolate or sugar decorations;
• Spicy biscuits orSpeculoos(very common in Belgium), which resume the form of the saint with pastoral care;
• pain d’épices,That's spicebread.

And you celebrate St. Nicholas in the country/region where you live? Leave a comment and do not miss the next articles to discover French traditions.