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In France Saint Nicolas comes primarily in the regions of Alsace, Lorraine, and Brittany. A little donkey carries the baskets filled with children’s gifts and treats. The whole family gets ready for the saint’s arrival on December 6. Grandparents tell stories of the saint. The most popular one is of three children who wandered away and got lost. Cold and hungry, the three children were lured by a wicked butcher into his shop where he placed them in a large tub of brine. 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 song many French children sing. Meanwhile bakeries and home kitchens are a hive of activity as spiced gingerbread cookies and mannala, brioche shaped like the good saint, are baked. Though Père Fouettard carries switches to threaten the children, what they really fear is that he may advise Saint Nicolas to pass them by on his gift-giving rounds. On the eve of the saint’s day, children put their shoes near the chimney and sing a song to Saint Nicolas before going off to bed. The shoes overflow in the morning with special Saint Nicolas sweet treats – chocolates and special cookies. Even good children find ribbon-tied birch twigs, as everyone does something naughty. In Saint-Nicolas-de-Port, where Nicolas is patron of all Lorraine, thousands of the faithful come on pilgrimage for his feast day, the 6th of December. 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, or Hôtel de Ville, the Mayor gives the good saint the key to the city. The grand evening ends with a big fireworks display.
