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Saint Nicolas: What is the festival celebrated in parts of France on December 6th?

While Christmas is the main event in terms of December festivals, certain parts of France have an extra day of celebration on December 6th.

Saint Nicolas: What is the festival celebrated in parts of France on December 6th?
The German influence on north-east France means that Saint Nicolas Day is celebrated. Photo: AFP

Wednesday, December 6th marks Saint Nicolas Day and certain parts of France will mark this with parades, family celebrations and lots of gingerbread.

St Nicolas Day is a huge deal in Germany, where it’s known as Nikolaustag, but certain areas of France celebrate it too, largely concentrated in the north east.

The reason for this is connected to the history of Alsace-Lorraine, the historic region now part of the Grand-Est, which passed between French and German hands several times in the nineteenth century, leaving the inhabitants with a lot of German influences on language, cuisine and festivals.

READ ALSO Why is Good Friday not a holiday in (most of) France?

Decorated pain d’épices (gingerbread) is an important part of the festival. Photo: AFP

The north east of France is generally known as the ‘Christmas centre’ echoing many of the traditions of a German Christmas while Strasbourg, which hosts a huge Christmas market, bills itself as the ‘Christmas capital of France’.

17 of the best Christmas markets in France

Saint Nicolas is said to have saved three children who were kidnapped by a butcher, and is therefore the patron saint of children. He is a different figure to Father Christmas (Père Noël), although some of some of his traditions are similar. 

Père Fouettard brings a whip to naughty children, while well-behaved ones get sweets. Photo: AFP

In France it’s a bit more low key, but still an important tradition to the inhabitants of this part of France.

French language expert and founder of French today Camille Chevalier-Karfis, whose family is originally from the region, said: “It’s an important festival in the Christian calendar but it’s also important to families who grew up in that area, my mother always liked to have us all visiting for Saint Nicolas.

“He is the patron saint of children and traditionally on December 6th he brings little gifts – sweets, dried fruits, chocolate or gingerbread – for children.

“But – crucially – only well-behaved children get gifts, naughty children get a visit from Père Fouettard who brings a whip for bad kids.

“Traditionally Père Fouettard had black servants but that doesn’t really happen any more.

“For some strict Catholic families in that area, Christmas is celebrated purely as a religious event and so Saint Nicolas is the time for visiting family, having a nice dinner together and giving little gifts.”

Many places also have parades or festivals of Saint Nicolas, while shops in the Alsace region sell the region’s famous decorated gingerbread.

Camille added: “Celebrating Saint Nicolas as well as Christmas is actually quite practical – if my whole family are together for Saint Nicolas then we can visit in-laws or other family members at Christmas.”

Camille Chevalier-Karfis is a French language expert, and founder of FrenchToday.com  

Member comments

  1. St Nicolas is an important festival in Belgium and the Netherlands also. And I believe in parts of Denmark.
    St Nikolaas in Dutch/Flemish became Sinterklaas which in the US became Santa Claus. The old name was Father Christmas or Father Winter or Father Frost in other countries. In the Ardennes St-Nicolas is associated with chocolate bonbons.

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PARIS

Discover the ‘coolest street in Paris’

Named among Time Out magazine's '30 coolest streets in the world', this thoroughfare is not in the classic mode of Parisian elegance, but instead showcases a different and very fun side of the city.

Discover the 'coolest street in Paris'

Rue de Belleville, which straddles Paris 19th and 20th arrondissements in the northern part of the city, was recently named among the 30 ‘coolest streets’ in the world by Time Out magazine.

The Parisian street ranked 20th, with streets such as High Street in Melbourne, Hollywood Road in Hong Kong and East Eleventh in Austin topping the podium.

According to the travel magazine, cities were chosen for their “bold, creative new ventures in food, drink, nightlife and culture,” with many emphasising outdoor drinking and dining, as well as “green initiatives”, making the area for walkable and pleasant.

What’s special about Rue de Belleville?

It is not located in central Paris, it’s not near to the banks of the Seine river and monuments like the Notre-Dame Cathedral and it gives a different vibe to those beautiful but touristy areas.

Rue de Belleville runs up a hill, going from the Belleville Metro station to the Porte des Lilas station at the edge of the city.

If you start at Porte des Lilas and walk downhill into the city you will get a great view of Paris spread out in front of you, while about halfway down the Eiffel Tower suddenly appears through a gap in the buildings.

Like Montmartre, Belleville was once a suburb of Paris and did not officially become part of the city until the mid 19th century. At that time it was a run down area and its most famous daughter Edith Piaf (born at 72 Rue de Belleville) grew up in poverty in the area.

Historically working-class, the Belleville neighbourhood has long been a key location for new immigrant communities coming to Paris. From German Jews fleeing the Third Reich in the 1930s to north African immigrants in the 1960s, Belleville has remained diverse.

In the 1970s, refugees from French Indochina arrived and opened shops and restaurants. Nowadays, Belleville is one of Paris’ two Chinatowns.

In the past few years, the neighbourhood – and especially Rue de Belleville itself – has become an increasingly popular location for eating, drinking and strolling around a less touristic part of Paris.

What to do nearby?

Time Out recommends drinking at the trendy cocktail bars Combat and Kissproof, or testing out the wine bar la Cale.

They advise eating at the Michelin recognised Cheval d’Or restaurant (it’s not actually on Rue de Belleville but on a side street) – The Local agrees and recommends getting the duck and trying their interesting selection of ‘natural’ wines.

Mian Guan for noodles and street food is Time Out’s other recommendation. 

As for the team at The Local, we recommend getting tasty dumplings at Ravioli Chinois Nord-Est and then breaking off from the main road to check out the graffiti alley-way, Rue Dénoyez.

Once you’ve had your street art fill, head back to Rue de Belleville and make your way up the hill toward the Jourdain Metro station and taking a slight detour along the Rue de la Villette.

Enjoy some window-shopping at the cute boutiques, grab a coffee at Mardi and make your way down to the Buttes-Chaumont park.

We cannot disagree with the recommendation to ‘chill out in Belleville Park to admire the view’, and karaoke at Chinatown Belleville is always a fun time.

Belleville is also the location for good markets, especially on public holidays where local creatives display their wares.

READ MORE: ‘Avoid the Eiffel Tower’ – What to see if you’re visiting Paris for just one day

How do I get there?

By Metro, you can take either line 2 or 11 to the Belleville station. You can also get off at from the 11 at nearby Pyrénées, Jourdain and Télégraphe stations (for a short walk).

Other Paris rankings with Time Out

The travel magazine also listed a few other Paris neighbourhoods and landmarks in its ‘best of’ rankings for 2024.

In their ‘40 coolest neighbourhoods in the world‘, Paris’ Haut-Maris, “sandwiched between the touristy Marais and the more boho 11th”. 

The magazine also ranked Paris in 11th place in its ’50 best cities in the world’ ranking, with the southern, coastal city of Marseille taking 45th place.

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