Saint Nicolas

Saint Nicolas: the person and the legend Saint Nicolas was a real man born in the year 270 in what is now Turkey He was a bishop and known for several miracles He is now a legend made from stories about his supposed miracles.

Saint Nicolas in Belgium Before December 6 th, children write to Saint Nicolas to tell him that they have been good and to ask for what they want. The night before the 6 th, kids put out their shoes near the fireplace or a window for Saint Nicolas. If you don’t leave out a shoe, Saint Nicolas won’t come. You should also leave a cup of coffee for him and a carrot for his donkey.

Saint Nicolas in France In France, Saint Nicolas is celebrated in Alsace and Lorraine and in the north of France. Children learn songs and write poems or color pictures of Saint Nicolas at school. Gingerbread is popular. If a kid was bad, he gets a twig in his shoe. In Nancy, there is a big parade with music and fireworks.

Le père fouettard A man dressed in black and carrying a whip accompanies Saint Nicolas. He is to reprimand the bad children.

Santa Claus The character of Santa Claus developed from the real man, Saint Nicolas. In Europe’s 16 th century, Protestants changed the gift giver to relate him to baby Jesus (Christ child), calling him Christkindl which in English became Kris Kringle. They also changed the date of gifts to Christmas Eve instead of December 6 th. Kris Kringle merged with England’s Father Christmas and became Santa Claus to us.

La chanson de Saint Nicolas Ô grand Saint Nicolas, Patron des écoliers, Apporte-moi des pommes Dans mon petit panier. Je serai toujours sage Comme un petit mouton. Je dirai des prières Pour avoir des bonbons. Venez, venez, Saint Nicolas, Venez, venez Saint Nicolas, Venez, venez, Saint Nicolas, Et tra la la...

St. Nicolas Comparison How do the traditions in France compare to your holiday traditions during this time? Are they similar or different? How so? Write a paragraph about what you learned and how it compares to your family’s traditions.