After his death, the miracles that began to be attributed to him are very numerous. According to some, he resurrected children who had been murdered by a butcher. Saint Nicholas then becomes the protector of children and by extension of the weakest.
Saint Nicholas
Nicholas (d. ca. 345-352), bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, whose body was exhumed and relocated to the Italian city of Bari in 1087. In the modern era, Saint Nicholas has been popularized as Santa Claus. But in Christian tradition, he is most celebrated for his miracles and secret gift giving. Holy oil said to have healing properties seeped from his remains and drew many medieval pilgrims to his shrine at Bari.
Nicholas, citizen of the city of Patras, was born of rich and holy kin, and his father was Epiphanes and his mother Johane. .
And when his father and mother were departed out of this life, he began to think how he might distribute his riches, and not to the praising of the world but to the honor and glory of God. And it was so that one, his neighbor, had then three daughters, virgins, and he was a nobleman: but for the poverty of them together, they were constrained, and in very purpose to abandon them to the sin of lechery, so that by the gain and winning of their infamy they might be sustained. And when the holy man Nicholas [heard of this] he had great horror of this villainy, and threw by night secretly into the house of the man a mass of gold wrapped in a cloth. And when the man arose in the morning, he found this mass of gold, and rendered to God . great [thanks], and therewith he married [off] his oldest daughter.
And a little while after this holy servant of God threw in another mass of gold, which the man found, and thanked God, and purposed to [lay in wait], for to know him that so had aided him in his poverty. And after a few days Nicholas doubled the mass of gold, and cast it into the house of this man. He awoke by the sound of the gold, and followed Nicholas, which fled from him, and he said to him, “Sir, flee not away so but that I may see and know thee.” Then he ran after him more hastily, and knew that it was Nicholas; and anon he kneeled down, and would have kissed his feet, but the holy man would not, but required him not to tell nor discover this thing as long as he lived.
Cactus Competition Winners Meet Saint Nicholas in the Sky
On Saturday 3 December, following the drawing competition organised by Cactus, in collaboration with Luxair Luxembourg Airlines, more than 90 children had the chance to meet Saint Nicholas.
Around 60 children chosen during the Saint Nicholas drawing competition and 40 chosen by Luxair and RTL were flown to visit Saint Nicholas. The morning began with Yuppi and LUXi welcoming the children at Lux-Airport. The children’s joy could be seen all over their faces.
Once in the air, the children had to sing the traditional Léiwe Kleeschen choir song befoe the pilots spotted Saint Nicholas in the clouds on his sleigh. Moments later, he made an appearance in the plane and greeted the children, thanking them for their beautiful drawings. Their joy was immense.
Upon landing, Saint-Nicholas gave each of them the gift of their dreams which they had chosen during the competition.
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Where do we celebrate The Saint Nicholas?
In France, the communes of the North and the East are very numerous to pay homage to the St. Nicholas. The tradition of St. Nicholas also continues in many European and Eastern European countries such as Belgium, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland the Czech Republic.
For a long time, this festival was more important for the inhabitants than Christmas.
How is Saint Nicholas celebrated?
Every year, during the night of December 5th to 6th, St. Nicholas comes down from the sky and enters the houses through the chimneys to distribute sweets to the good children (chocolates, apples, candies, dried fruits, gingerbread). As for the children, they must deposit a glass of milk for him, before bedtime. St. Nicholas historically travels with his donkey. For this reason, little children must also bring food for the donkey (hay, grain or carrots).
However, Saint Nicholas and his donkey are not the only ones to go around the houses. , They are also accompanied by the scary Père Fouettard (whip father.)
This character dressed in black and with a long black beard is in charge of punishing children who are not good. In some regions, he canes the children, in others, he threatens to carry them away in his bag and sometimes he distributes coal, onions or potatoes.
During the first weekend of December, many parades celebrating the arrival of Saint Nicholas are organized in the cities. The bishop, accompanied by his donkey and the Père Fouettard, parade in the streets on different floats and distribute sweets.
The parades organized for St. Nicholas are particularly magical in the French region of Lorraine, because he is the patron saint of this region. In the cities of Nancy and Metz, the parades even end with a fireworks display.
The Saint Nicholas brioche
In some regions, buns in the shape of little men are prepared by bakers on the day of the celebration of Saint Nicholas. These buns usually accompany the hot chocolate of the children’s snack. They can be decorated with raisins or chocolate chips.
Depending on the region, these little buns have a different name: “Mannele” in Alsace (which means “little man”), “Jean-Bonhomme” in Lorraine and Franche-Comté, “Boxemännchen” in Luxembourg and “Grittibänz” in Switzerland.
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