SAINT NICHOLAS DAY

St. Nicholas (Lipnya Church of St. Nicholas in Novgorod)

December 6th (on the Gregorian Calendar), is St. Nicholas Day, the day designated by the Catholic Church in its Calendar of Saints to honor the man named Nicholas (Greek: Νικόλαος, Nikolaos, “victory of the people”) for his saintly life. On the Julian Calendar, the feast falls on December 19.
As a faithful bishop St. Nicholas was revered as a saint even before his death because of his great holiness and tender care of his flock. He is most honored in the East, especially in Russia. Throughout the world many churches are named for him, more than for any other saint.
Nicholas lived in the fourth century and was Bishop of Myra in Lycia, which is now a part of Turkey. His birth date is unknown, but December 6th (345 or 352 A.D.) is the generally agreed upon date of his death and it is this date that is celebrated as a religious as well as a secular holiday in many countries. Following the death of his parent’s it is said that Nicholas used his inheritance to help those in need. His acts of kindness and mercy were legendary and he became known throughout Christendom as a saintly man.
The historical Saint Nicholas is one of the most popular saints especially in the East Orthodox Church, he is remembered and honored among Catholic and Orthodox Christians and also by various Anglican and Lutheran churches.
Saint Nicholas is surely named the patron saint of more causes than any other saint.
He has been chosen as the special protector or guardian of a great many classes of people, cities, churches, and even countries:
Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of Greece and Russia, and the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers, thieves, children, and students in Greece, Belgium, France, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Albania, Russia, the Republic of Macedonia, Slovakia, Serbia, and Montenegro. He is also the patron saint of Aberdeen, Amsterdam, Barranquilla, Bari, Beit Jala, Liverpool, Siggiewi, and Lorraine.
Day of Saint Nicholas is a festival for children in many countries in Europe related to surviving legends of the saint, and particularly his reputation as a bringer of gifts. In many parts, children can expect to receive sweets and gifts or find them in their shoes, stockings or other objects placed for Saint Nicholas to leave his presents.
The American Santa Claus, as well as the Anglo-Canadian and British Father Christmas, derive from these legends. The name Santa Claus itself evolved from Sinterklaas, a short form of Sint Nikolaas (Dutch for Saint Nicholas), brought to the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam (historical name for New York) in America.
Due to the modern association with Christmas, Saint Nicholas is also a patron saint of Christmas.
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The Feast of Saint Nicholas," by Jan Steen (1893)

Honoring of Saints

A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person. Patron saints, because they have already transcended to the metaphysical, are believed to be able to intercede effectively for the needs of their special charges.

During the Middle Ages the harsh dreariness of everyday life was mitigated somewhat by the festivities that surrounded the feast days of popular, well known saints. The word holiday is derived from holy day, the days set aside by the Church to honor and remember various saints on their feast days. These holy day celebrations were a combination of both religious and secular elements which included a Mass in honor of the saint whose feast was being celebrated as well secular activities like having the day off from work, serving of special foods, singing, dancing, etc.

The Protestant Reformation in the fifteenth century attempted to do away with the honoring of saints but ran into difficulty with Nicholas because his feast day had become as much a part of the secular culture as the religious.

In many European countries the gift giving aspect of St. Nicholas day was merged into the gift giving of Christmas and attempts were made to replace St. Nicholas with fictional secular characters such as Père Noel in France, Father Christmas in England, Father Frost in Russia, Christkind/Christkindl (corrupted in English to Kris Kringle) in Germany, etc.
All of these fictional secular characters shared the same saintly characteristics of Nicholas – love and care for children, giving secretly at night without expectation of receiving anything in return, etc.
As has been the case with other religious and secular zealots, the attempts to eradicate St. Nicholas and the celebrations and festivities associated with him failed in the long run. In many places, including the Untied States, the feast of St. Nicholas simply merged with Christmas while in other places, like Holland, it remained a separate holiday but part of the larger Christmas season. (www.hubpages.com)

In the weekly liturgical cycle of the Orthodox Church, Thursday is dedicated to the Holy Apostles and to Saint Nicholas, who stands as a model for all the great hierarchs the successors to the Apostles and teachers of the Church. To be given a place in the weekly cycle indicates the great veneration the Church accords him.
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St. Nicholas and scenes from his life. First half of 16th c. (Novgorod school)

Saint Nicholas’ Life
- Historical Facts and Legends -

Some say St. Nicholas existed only in legend, without any reliable historical record, some rather believe that the legend of St. Nicholas was a recycling of various pagan traditions, most notably stories of Poseidon and Neptune, from Greek and Roman myths.
Many medieval saints are believed to have been rewritten versions of pagan gods and goddesses, rather than actual historical figures, and some historians include St Nicholas in this group.
Fact is Saint Nicholas is one of those saints whose life-facts are supported with little historical evidence. Perhaps this is why his life inspired so many legends and myths.

Whatever the origins of St. Nicholas, whether he was a real historical person or a mythical figure created from other traditions, his spirit of generosity and giving lives on today.

Nicholas is said to be born in the Roman Empire’s Greek colony of Patara, a town in western Lycia, at a time when the region was part of the Roman province of ancient Minor Asia.
Legend claims that the year of his birth falls between the years 280 and 286; other sources mention the year 260, or the time around 250. It is said he has been the only son of wealthy Christian parents who died in an epidemic while Nicholas was young. He was then raised by his uncle – also named Nicholas – who was the bishop of Patara.
His parents left him a fortune and it is said that Nicholas gave it away by secret gift-giving to the poor. His acts of kindness, mercy and generosity were legendary.

As a young man, Nicholas became the Bishop of Myra (modern day Demre in the Antalya province of Turkey), one of the most important cities in Lyica which was during the reign of co-ruling roman emperors Diocletian (reigned 284-305) and Maximian (reigned 286-305) from which comes the estimation of his age.
It is believed that Nicholas suffered from Christian persecution at that time and was imprisoned for his religious beliefs, being released upon the persecution’s end.
In 325 he might have attended the Council of Nice and might also have paid a visit to the Holy Father in Rome in the autumn of his life.

Turkey – Myra – St Nicholas Church

It is generally agreed upon that Saint Nicholas died on December 6, between the years 345 and 352. He was buried in Myra but in 1087 his relics were transferred to Bari in Southern Italy where, as a legend has it, Nicholas stopped during his pilgrimage to Rome.

Saint Nicholas became one of the most honored saints of the Eastern Church (the territory of the Eastern Roman Empire, later called Byzantium), where he is respected as an advocate of orthodoxy against unbelievers.
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Miracles and Deeds

A great number of legends and stories about the life, deeds and miracles of Saint Nicholas became the basis for his worship and people suspected that he was behind a large number of anonymous gifts to the poor, using the inheritance from his wealthy parents. After he died, people in the region continued to give to the poor anonymously, and such gifts were still often attributed to Saint Nicholas.
Over the time he became the Patron Saint of many different professions and groups. He is the Patron Saint of
sailors, children, students, brides, pawnbrokers, bankers, merchants, businessmen, butchers, travelers and many more, including all those on the margins of society, like thieves, prisoners etc., whereas here the role of St. Nicholas as the patron saint is not that of a protector of the profession but, rather his role is one of confronting people and convincing them to change their ways and lead good lives.

St. Nicola Patron of the Sea, 9th Centenary of the Translation (from: www.stnicholascenter.org)

Patron Saint of Sailors

Saint Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors and is often called upon by sailors who are in danger of drowning or being shipwrecked.

According to one legend, as a young man Nicholas went to study in Alexandria and on one of his sea voyages from Myra to Alexandria he is said to have saved the life of a sailor who fell from the ship’s rigging in a storm. In a colorful version of this legend, Nicholas saved the man on his voyage back from Alexandria to Myra and upon his arrival took the sailor to the church.
At that time the old bishop had just died and the church fathers were instructed in a dream to choose for their next bishop a “man of victory” (Greek: Nikei). While the saint was praying, the loose-lipped sailor went around telling how courageously he was saved by the man Nikei-Laos, upon which the church elders had no choice but to appoint Nicholas as their new bishop. (Saint Nicholas, www.newworldencyclopedia.org).

Many ports, most notably in Greece, have icons of Saint Nicholas, surrounded by ex-votos of small ships made of silver or carved of wood. Sailors returning safely from sea, place these in gratitude to St. Nicholas for protection received. In some places sailors, instead of wishing one another luck, say, “May St. Nicholas hold the tiller”.
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Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Stories of Saint Nicholas: The Saint Provides a Dowry for Three Poor Girls, c. 1327-30, Tempera on wood, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.

Patron Saint of Brides

One of Nicholas’ most famous exploit is about a poor and indebted man who had three daughters but could not afford a proper dowry for them. This meant that they would remain unmarried and probably, in absence of any other possible employment, would have to become prostitutes. Hearing of the poor man’s plight, Nicholas decided to help him. Being too modest, or too shy, to help the man in public, he went to his house under the cover of night and threw three purses filled with gold coins through the window onto the man’s floor.
One version has him throwing one purse for three consecutive nights. Another has him throw the purses over a period of three years, each time the night before one of the daughters comes “of age”. Invariably the third time the father lies in waiting, trying to discover their benefactor. In one version the father confronts the saint, only to have Nicholas say it is not him he should thank, but God alone. In another version, Nicholas learns of the poor man’s plan and drops the third bag down the chimney instead.

Another legend says, as the father of the three daughters was able to pay his debts to the pawnbroker after receiving Nicholas’ gifts, Nicholas became also the patron saint of pawnbrokers; the three gold balls traditionally hung outside a pawnshop symbolize the three sacks of gold. (Saint Nicholas, www.newworldencyclopedia.org).
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St. Nicholas and the three children rescued from the butcher. Stained glass (white glass, grisaille, silver sulfide) and lead, France, ca. 1510-1530. ARMMA (Friends of the Museum)

Patron Saint of Children

In the West Nicholas is most widely known as the patron saint of children.
A legend tells of a terrible famine which struck the island during which time a malicious butcher lured three little children into his house, only to kill and slaughter them and put their remains in a barrel to cure, planning to sell them off as ham. Saint Nicholas, visiting the region to care for the hungry, not only saw through the butcher’s horrific crime but also managed to resurrect the three boys from the barrel.

Another version of this story, possibly formed around the eleventh century, claims that they were instead three clerks who wished to stay the night. The man murdered them, and was advised by his wife to dispose of them by turning them into meat pies. The Saint saw through this and brought the men back to life. This alternate version is thought to be the origin of the English horror legend, Sweeney Todd. (Saint Nicholas, www.newworldencyclopedia.org).

Other stories, as well, tell of children who disappeared, were kidnapped, fell into a well, or suffered some other disaster-all to be delivered through the good offices of St. Nicholas. These accounts of a child forcibly taken from parents, followed by a time of grieving and despair, then the miraculous return of the child, have profound and universal appeal which makes Nicholas the much valued Guardian of Children. It is no wonder he is the beloved patron saint of children.

People began to call Nicholas a “wonder worker” (a person who works wonders or performs miracles). They were so inspired by his life of service to others that many of them, too, began to lead holy lives, filled with good deeds. (www.stnicholascenter.org).
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The Miracle of Wheat Multiplication

Miracle of the Corn. Fra Angelica, Vatican Museum, Rome

During a great famine that the Bishop of Myra experienced, a ship was is in the port at anchor, which was loaded with wheat for the Emperor in Byzantium. He invited the sailors to unload a part of the wheat to help in time of need. The sailors at first disliked the request, because the wheat had to be weighed accurately and delivered to the Emperor. Only when Nicholas promised them that they would not take any damage for their consideration, the sailors agreed. When they arrived later in the capital, they made a surprising find. The weight of the load had not changed. The removed wheat in Myra was even enough for two full years and could even be used for sowing.
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R E L I C S

Tomb St. Nicholas (photo: Sjoehest at de.wikipedia, 2004)

Early in the reign of Alexius Comnenus, who reigned Asia Minor 1081-1118, Myra was overtaken by the Islamic invaders. Taking advantage of this confusion and over the objections of the Orthodox monks, sailors from Bari, Italy, took the remains of Saint Nicholas from his grave and brought them to Bari, where they arrived on May 9 in 1087.
Whereas the devotional importance of relics and the economics associated with pilgrimages caused the remains of most saints to be divided up and spread over numerous churches in several countries, St. Nicholas is unique in that most of his bones have been preserved in one spot: his grave crypt in Bari.
On 28 December 2009, the Turkish Government announced that it would be formally requesting the return of St Nikolaos’s bones to Turkey from the Italian government. Turkish authorities have cited the fact that Saint Nicolas himself wanted to be buried at his birthplace. They also state that his remains were illegally removed from Turkey.
(Saint Nicholas, wikipedia).
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Saint Nicholas Day – Customs & Traditions

(photo: www.gardenmama.typepad.com)

The Feast Day of Saint Nicholas on December 6th is a church holiday. In some orthodox regional churches December 6 is celebrated according to the Julian Calendar, which corresponds to December 19th on the Gregorian Calendar.
Saint Nicholas Day is a festival for children in many countries of Europe related to surviving legends of the saint, and particularly his reputation as a bringer of gifts.
Today Saint Nicholas Day has been abolished as an official holiday at most places and is a regular working day. Even in the Netherlands, where Sinterklaas is celebrated unlike anywhere It is not an official holiday.
In many countries, such as Slovenia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and the Ukraine, Saint Nicholas is accompanied by the symbolic figures of an angel and a devil. The angel acts as a counterweight to the devil, by e.g. pleading on behalf of the children, whereas the figure of the devil comes to leave a rod or something similar for children who have not shown good behavior over the year, or for taking away the “bad” ones.
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Albania

Among Albanians, Saint Nicholas is known as Shen’Kollë and is venerated by most Catholic families, even those from villages that are devoted to other saints. The Feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated on the eve of 5 December, known as Shen’Kolli i Dimnit (Saint Nicholas of Winter), as well as on the commemoration of the interring of his bones in Bari, the eve of 8 May, known as Shen’Kolli i Majit (Saint Nicholas of May).Albanian Catholics often swear by Saint Nicholas, saying “Pasha Shejnti Shen’Kollin!” (“May I see Holy Saint Nicholas!”), indicating the importance of this saint in Albanian culture, especially among the Albanians of Malësia.
On the eve of his feast day, Albanians will light a candle and abstain from meat, preparing a feast of roasted lamb and pork, to be served to guests after midnight. Guests will greet each other, saying, “Nata e Shen’Kollit ju nihmoftë!” (“May the Night of Saint Nicholas help you!”) and other such blessings.
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Austria

St. Nicholas, the special children’s saint, is honored throughout Austria.
At some places Nicolo or Niklaus comes on St. Nicholas Eve, December 5, and other places on the day itself, December 6. He is dressed as a bishop with flowing robes and a miter, carrying a big book and a bishop’s crozier. During the year angels, who sometimes come with him, write children’s good and bad deeds in this book. When children promise to be good and study hard, St. Nicholas rewards them with a treat. He may come by himself or with angel helpers and/or a Krampus.
Krampus is a strange and frightening creature who is prevalent in Austria. Usually seen with St. Nicholas. this devil figure, often in chains, is dressed in fur with a scary devil mask with horns and a long red tongue. Krampus carries a wooden stick or switches to threaten children who misbehave or do not know their lessons. Many towns and cities have Krampus parades with many young men in elaborate fur costumes and devil masks. After the parade the Krampus figures scatter and beat anyone who gets in their way.
Parades take place days before St. Nicholas Day, usually on November 29.

Biggest Krampus Parade in Klagenfurt, Austria, Nov. 29, 2008

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St. Nicholas Circus (photo: www.phixion.be)

Belgium

In Dutch-speaking Flanders, colorful parades similar to those in the Netherlands greet Sinterklaas and his Zwarte Piet assistants with bands and banners picturing the saint.
December 6th is a special day for children, rather than whole families as in the Netherlands. St. Nicholas visits Flemish children more than once. He visits in schools, sports clubs and homes, asking children if they have done their best in the past year. He checks in his big book to see if they are telling the truth.
In shops and department stores, St Nicholas sits on a throne and children queue to greet him and receive a small gift.
St. Nicholas also makes appearances at the special St. Nicholas circuses that are popular iin Belgium. Saint Nicholas churches often collect toys and gifts for the needy at special services honoring the saint.
In the East Flanders town of Sint-Klaas, the saint brings his treats the weekend before the 6th of December. The following Monday is an elementary school holiday which gives children a three-day-weekend to play with their new toys. This tradition grew out of the annual fair, held in the market square the week before December 6.

In French-speaking Wallonia St. Nicolas comes, as well, where he is often accompanied by a donkey and Père Fouettard, as in France. Some places celebrate similarly to that in Germany.
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Croatia

In Croatia December 6 is the main day of gift-giving. Sveti Nikola brings gifts to children, accompanied by Krampus who leaves golden twigs for naughty children—the worse the behavior, the larger the twig. Every child gets a twig as a warning; each gets sweets as well.

Jovica Mitrovic sings “Sveti Nikola”

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(photo:www.kidsinprague.com)

Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic on the eve of Saint Nicholas Day, Svaty Mikuláš is giving gifts to children. Together with the angel and devil figure he is forming a procession marking the beginning of the Christmas season.
The streets are filled with devils rattling chains, St. Nicholases with white cotton beards, long robes and bishops’ staffs, and angels with paper wings on their way to visit small children in their homes.
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(photo: www.marchedenoelnantes.com)

France

In France Saint Nicolas comes primarily in Alsace, Lorraine, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, and Brittany.
A little donkey carries baskets filled with children’s gifts and treats.
The whole family gets ready for the saint’s arrival on December 6, including story telling.
The most popular one is of three children who wandered away and got lost. Cold and hungry, a wicked butcher lured them into his shop where he attacked and salted them away in a large tub. Through the intervention of St. Nicolas the boys were restored to their families.
This story led to Nicolas being recognized as the protector of children. In France statues and paintings often portray this event, showing the saint with children in a barrel. The evil butcher became Père Fouettard, who has followed St. Nicolas in shame ever since. This story is also a popular French children’s song:

La Légende de St. Nicolas – French St. Nicholas song

Children put their shoes outside on the evening of Saint Nicholas Day, receiving gifts and sweets the next morning.
In Saint-Nicolas-de-Port and Nancy, where Nicolas is patron of all Lorraine, thousands of the faithful come on pilgrimage for his feast day. The celebration is festive—with music and a parade of beautiful floats for the saint’s magical arrival, escorted by Père Fouettard. At the Town Hall the Mayor gives the good saint the key to the city. The grand evening ends with a big fireworks display.
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Germany

St. Nicholas Day in Germany is usually celebrated on a small scale on December 6, with Nicholas as a gift-bringer for children. (Young) adults often also exchange gifts and sweets.
In Roman Catholic areas of southern Germany, such as Bavaria, Sankt Nikolaus still comes as a bishop with flowing beard and a bishop’s miter and staff. Houses are thoroughly cleaned and children clean and polish their shoes or boots in preparation for the saint’s visit. During the night Sankt Nikolaus goes from house to house carrying a book in which all the children’s deeds are written. If they have been good, he fills their plate, shoe or boot with fruits, sweets and gifts and often also leaves special “Nicholas boots” (Nikolausstiefel).
Children practice poems and songs for Sankt Nikolaus and make little presents for him.

(photo: www.festung.com)

Nikolaus leaves quickly as he has many places to visit. He travels with a white horse or a donkey and sometimes Knecht (servant) Ruprecht, his most common German companion, is with him, equipped with deerlegs and serving as the evil counterpart of Nikolaus. There are many other regional names for Nikolaus’ companion existing in Germany as well as local customs for celebrating St. Nicholas Day.
In Stuttgart, for example, kids dress up as Nikolaus and go door-to-door asking for sweets – much like trick-or-treating in the United States.
In some parts of Germany Nikolaus has come to look more like Santa and Father Christmas.
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A Greek icon of Nicholas, without mitre (www.livius.org)

Greece

In Greece, Saint Nicholas does not carry an especial association with gift-giving, as this tradition is carried over to St. Basil of Cesarea, celebrated on New Year’s Day. St. Nicholas being the protector of sailors, he is considered the patron saint of the Greek navy, war and merchant alike and his day is marked by festivities aboard all ships and boats, at sea and in port. It is also associated with the preceding feasts of St. Barbara (December 4), St. Savvas (December 5), and the following feast of St. Ann (December 9); all these are often collectively called the “Nikolobárbara”, and are considered a succession of days that heralds the onset of truly wintry cold weather in the country. Therefore by tradition, homes should have already been laid with carpets, removed for the warm season, by St. Andrew’s Day (November 30), a week ahead of the Nikolobárbara.
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Holland/The Netherlands

In the Netherlands Sinterklaas is a big celebration. Saint Nicholas’ Eve (5 December) is the main occasion for gift-giving and surprises during the Christmas season. The evening is called “sinterklaasavond” or “pakjesavond” (“presents evening”). In the Netherlands, most children receive their presents on this evening.
St. Nicholas Eve is celebrated with festive family parties. Unlike other places, adults as well as children join in the fun. As the Dutch like an element of surprise, a small gift may be wrapped in a huge box, or it may be hidden and require following clues to discover where it is.

Sinterklaas is assisted by many mischievous helpers with black faces and colourful Moorish dresses, dating back two centuries. These helpers are called ‘Zwarte Pieten’ (Black Petes). During the Middle-ages Zwarte Piet was a name for the devil. The blackness of Sinterklaas’ helpers was racial in the past, with Pete being an imported African servant of Saint Nicholas since 1850 (though some people say Pete was a slave who, when Sinterklaas bought him his freedom, was so grateful that he stayed to assist him). Today however, the more politically correct explanation that Pete’s face is “black from soot” (as Pete has to climb through chimneys to deliver his gifts) is used.

Sinterklaas traditionally arrives in the Netherlands each year in mid-November (usually on a Saturday) three weeks before the main Sinterklaas celebration, by steamboat from Spain. Some suggest that gifts associated with the holy man, such as mandarin oranges, led to the misconception that he must have been from Spain. He parades through the streets on his gray horse Amerigo, welcomed by cheering and singing children. This event is broadcast live on national television in the Netherlands and Belgium.
“Sinterklaas Season” starts when Sinterklaas and his helpers travel around the country, visiting hospitals, schools, shops, restaurants, and even homes. Sint and his Piets seem to be everywhere at once, asking about children’s behavior and listening through chimneys. The children leave their shoes out with carrots and hay for the horse. In exchange the Piets put candy or a small gift in the shoes to be found in the morning.
His Zwarte Piet assistants throw candy and small, round, gingerbread-like cookies, either “kruidnoten” or “pepernoten,” into the crowd. The children welcome him by singing traditional Sinterklaas songs. Sinterklaas visits schools, hospitals and shopping centers. After this arrival, all towns with a dock usually celebrate their own “intocht van Sinterklaas” (arrival of Sinterklaas). Local arrivals usually take place later on the same Saturday of the national arrival, the next Sunday (the day after he arrives in the Netherlands or Belgium), or one weekend after the national arrival. In places a boat cannot reach, Sinterklaas arrives by train, horse, or even carriage or fire truck.
Traditionally, in the weeks between his arrival and 5 December, before going to bed, children put their shoes next to the fireplace chimney of the coal-fired stove or fireplace. In modern times, they may put them next to the central heating unit. They leave the shoe with a carrot or some hay in it and a bowl of water nearby “for Sinterklaas’ horse”, and the children sing a Sinterklaas song. The next day they will find some candy or a small present in their shoes.

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Hungary

In Hungary carefully polish their best boots on December 5 and put them on the windowsill or in front of the door to be filled by Szent Mikulás or more commonly known as Mikulás. The good bishop comes with a big sack full of presents and a large record book with children’s good and bad deeds. He is often accompanied by the Krampusz, the frightening helper who is out to take away the bad kids.
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Italy

St. Nicholas (San Nicolo) is the patron of the city of Bari, where he is buried. Its deeply felt celebration is called the Festa di San Nicola, held on the 7-8-9 of May. In particular on May 8 the relics of the saint are carried on a boat on the sea in front of the city with many boats following (Festa a mare). On December 6 there is a ritual called the Rito delle nubili. The same tradition is currently observed in Sassari, where during the day of Saint Nicholas, patron of the city, gifts are given to young brides who need help before getting married.

In Trieste, San Nicolo is celebrated with gifts given to children on the morning of the 6th of December and with a fair called Fiera di San Nicolò during the first weeks of December. Depending on the cultural background, in some families this celebration is more important than Christmas. Trieste is a city on the sea, being one of the main ports of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and is influenced mainly by Italian, Slovenian and German cultures, but also Greek and Serbian.

The city of Gesualdo celebrates on December, 6th the Festa di San Nicola.
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Liechtenstein

In Liechtenstein the Christmas season begins with the celebration of St. Nicholas day on on 6 December. St. Nicholas, who may be a friend or family member in costume, vists each home to talk with the children. After asking them if they have been good children, he makes notes in his large book. The chidlren tell him what they would like the Christmas Angel to bring on Christmas Eve. St. Nicholas gives the children small treats before he leaves. It is his responsibility to tell the Christmas Angel about the children’s Christmas wishes.
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Luxembourg

During November, St. Nicolas, known as Klees’chen, comes to Luxembourg accompanied by the Houseker, a frithening helper wearing a brown monk’s habit, to check and see if the children deserve any presents. For days and weeks before St. Nicolas Day on December 6th, children put their shoes or slippers on the windowsill or in front of their bedroom doors. He also visits shops and school classrooms. On the Sunday before his festival, towns and cities officially welcome St. Nicolas. In some places he arrives by boat to be met by the mayor and aldermen. They escort him to the town hall, where a crowd of happy, excited children beg in verse for bonbons. St. Nicholas gives each child a bag filled with apples, cakes, and sweets.
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Poland

In Poland Sw.Mikołaj is a saintly, dignified figure; he comes as a bishop carrying a crozier. Descending from Heaven with an angel helper, he travels on foot or in a sleigh pulled by a white horse as he visits homes in the countryside.
Sw. Mikolaj rebukes or praises, as appropriate, before distributing holy pictures, red apples or oranges, and pierniki (saint cookies made with honey and spices).
If he doesn’t come in person, treats are put under sleeping children’s pillows or left in freshly cleaned and polished shoes on the eveing of December 5 or the morning of December 6. St. Nicholas acts in his traditional religious role as a protector and patron saint while encouraging Polish children to be well-behaved.
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Portugal

In one city (Guimarães) in Portugal, St. Nicholas (São Nicolau) has been celebrated since the Middle Ages as the patron saint of high-school students, in the so called Nicolinas, a group of festivities that occur from 29 November to 7 December each year. In the rest of Portugal this is not celebrated.
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Romania

In Romania, the day of Sfantul Nicolae is one of the most important holidays.
On the night of December 5th, boots are cleaned and carefully polished to be put by the door or on the windowsill. On the sixth of December, gifts are given to friends, children, and those in need.
Sfantul Nicolae is generous to adults as well as children. In some areas branches or thin twigs covered with silver or bronze are left as a warning that behavior needs to improve.

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Slovakia

In Slovakia Svaty Mikuláš, arrives in a horse drawn coach, along with an angel and the devil who rattles a chain. Waiting children fill the streets with singing and dancing. St. Nicholas has a present for each child. In some villages he visits each home.
On St. Nicholas Eve all the children carefully polish their boots to leave on the windowsill or at the doorstep.
The next evening older boys dress up as Mikuláš with his companions, an angel and a devil with chains and bells at the waist. The trio visits families with young children, giving more fruit, nuts and candies. The children first say a prayer or rhyme. In Bratislava the devil might give a potato instead of coal.
Some schools have a special “Mikul Mail,” where children exchange greetings and small presents. There are small gifts for the teachers, too.
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Slovenia

In Slovenia Miklavz on December 6, is the special day of gift-giving for children. The weeks before are the time for Miklavz fairs or markets.
The night before the Feast of St. Nicholas, children put a shoe outside the door, hoping it will be filled with sweets and gifts. The saint’s companion Parkel may leave coal or cinders and switches for naughty children. Or more likely, a mix of both, as most children behave in both good and bad ways.
The feast day itself usually begins with Mass and the priest joins in the later festivities.
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Switzerland

Switzerland is a country of several languages so it is not surprising there are several different St. Nicholas traditions. In German-speaking areas Saint Nicholas is known as Samichlaus. On December 5th, the eve of St. Nicolas Day, villages around Lake Lucerne glow with the light of hundreds of enormous, heavy paper-cut bishops’ miter/hats (iffele), paraded through the streets by men and boys in white or black robes. The headpieces are artistically designed, intricately cut out of cardboard, and lit by a candle within. The iffelen, from three to six feet tall, have been made for over 100 years. Each is a unique piece of art with a figure of St. Nicholas on the front and a cross and the insignia IHS for Jesus Christ on the back. When the candle is lit they are transformed into “stained glass” because there are many colors of transparent paper applied inside.

Each town has its own way to celebrate. The well-known Parade in Küssnacht am Rigi begins when a cannon shot signals the start. First come men skillfully cracking long sheep whips. Next are the lighted iffelen, 180 young men dancing and swaying as they pass in their lighted headdresses. Surrounded by torchbearers, the bishop St. Nicholas himself comes with his two evil counterparts, called Schmutzlis.

The Klaus procession of Küssnacht in Switzerland
is one of the most impressive St.Nicholas traditions all over Europe. Every year up to 30’000 spectators visit Küssnacht to see the impressive procession through the village
with more than one thousand “Klaus Chasers”.

In the French-speaking area of Bulle, Saint Nicolas arrives at the begining of December. He comes with a great colorful parade of cherubs and Père Fouettards.
After St. Nicolas greets the people, honey cookies are given to everyone. At nightfall St. Nicholas leads a torch-lit procession in a grand horse-drawn carriage, or sleigh. As it has been done for centuries, brass bands, the donkey carrying children’s gifts, and the sound of Père Fouettard’s chains accompany the saint.
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Ukraine

In Ukraine, Svyatyi Mykolay tradition is celebrated on December 19 according to the Julian Calendar.
Ukrainian folk tradition recognizes two Saint Nicholas figures: “cold Nicholas” and “warm Nicholas.”
Cold Nicholas, the familiar winter saint, is believed to bring the first snow by shaking his beard.
In Western Ukraine accompanied by angel and devil figures, he is celebrated with gift-giving to children.
Celebrated in the spring, warm Nicholas, patron saint of farming, is said to walk the land to dry overly wet areas and dampen the dry. On the festival horses begin grazing in the fields, sheep are sheared, and buckwheat sowed. In port areas the festival focuses on Nicholas as patron saint of the seas. Cossacks, like the Greeks, take St. Nicholas icons when sailing the treacherous Black Sea.

Ой, хто, хто Миколая любить (Who, who loves St. Nicholas)
Ukrainian song, performed by Andriy Kok

St. Nicholas is the focus of seasonal charity in many parts of the Ukraine and many charity activities take place during that time, like in Lviv where volunteers prepare gifts for thousands of less fortunate children across the country.
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United Kingdom

England has nearly 500 Anglican churches named for St. Nicholas. These parishes and cathedrals mark their patron saint‘s feast day with a special Patronal Feast.
As Saint Nicholas Day is in early Advent and he is associated with children and gifts, many churches invite the saint to visit during, or after, the Sunday service, to explain who he is and what it means to celebrate his memory today. (Some churches do observe the day properly on the 6th rather than on the closest Sunday because each Advent Sunday has its own important theme.) On this day the homily reflects St Nicholas’ true identity, as opposed to the more commercial Father Christmas or Santa. There is also a time for collecting food, gifts, and money for the less financially privileged.

Canterbury hosts an impressive St Nicholas Fest, begun in 2000. City and Cathedral together sponsor the event that begins with a parade through the city and ends inside the Cathedral itself. Saint Nicholas and Archbishop Rowan Williams lead the parade into the Cathedral precincts where over 2500 children and adults pack the cathedral to welcome the Saint and Archbishop.
Music and dance, hymns and prayers, the Cathedral Boys Choir and more create a festive scene.

The Feast of St Nicholas in Canterburry Cathedral
Dr Rowan Williams reflects on the city’s celebrations for the Feast of St Nicholas
in the run up to Christmas – the procession through the city streets
leading to the service in the Canterbury Cathedral.
With Canon Jim Rosenthal of the St Nicholas Society.

As the festival has grown, more and more places are also beginning to host annual St Nicholas events. London’s Holy Trinity Sloane Square , for example, sponsors a special event along with the surrounding shopping district. In addition, churches other than those dedicated to St. Nicholas, are also including the good saint as part of their Advent activities.
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SLAVA in Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia

Every Orthodox family in Serbia has one patron saint. Each family celebrates the feast day of their saint with a unique Serbian Orthodox religious tradition, Krsna Slava, or Thanksgiving, on the day when their ancestors were baptized (Serbians accepted Christianity by families and whole tribes).
This same saint is the family’s saint from generation to generation through the centuries. Sveti Nikola (St. Nicholas) is the patron saint for so many families that there is a Serbian saying for St. Nicholas Day on December 19, “Half of Serbia is celebrating their Slava today, and the other half is going to a Slava.” It is a very important day for Serbian Orthodox.

Slava is feasting, singing, and festival, but also, and more importantly, a time of spiritual renewal and rededication to the Orthodox faith and church.

Bob Djurdjevic explains traditions of Slava – St. Nicholas Day:

There is more to Saint Nicholas in Serbia than Slava, though. On St. Nicholas Eve children place a shoe on the windowsill. By morning they find dried fruit, nuts, small toys or new school supplies left by St. Nicholas. It is said that naughty children find an onion.
Families also soak some wheat kernels on St. Nicholas Day, putting them in a small plate or saucer with a candle in the center. The wheat sprouts and is full and green by Christmas—new, young, and green in midwinter—as a symbol of Christ birth.

Macedonians whose Slava is on Nicholas’ day, prepare special foods without egg, meat or milk. Boiled wheat, wine and special breads are taken to the church to be blessed. All the family’s friends and relatives come—no one needs an invitation. It is a big celebration with fish, cabbage rolls filled with rice and spice, beans, and salads for everyone.

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I wish all who celebrate it
HAPPY SAINT NICHOLAS DAY!

Best wishes,

Angela Nilsson
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Sources:
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=23
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinterklaas
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Saint_Nicholas
http://hubpages.com/hub/St_Nicholas_Day
http://www.history.com/topics/santa-claus
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=44
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/858488/Saint-Nicholas-Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas
http://www.psalterium.cz/en/sv_mikulas_en.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myra
http://www.magnificat.ca/cal/engl/12-06.htm
http://www.stcharleschristmas.com/stnicholas.htm
http://www.myczechrepublic.com/czech_culture/czech_holidays/saint_nicholas.html

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