Figure 1.--Here is a French St. Nicolas postcard. It is not dated, but I think was made before World war I. Notice that St Nicolas is depicted in clerical garb. He has a eard, but is not portly like Santa.

There was an actual historical St. Nicholas. He was an important part of Christmas in France through the 19th and early 20th century. He was generally depicted as a revered clerical figure in France. He was commonly seen as an old man with a long beard. Sometimes he was given a red cape. He was the friend of the children. Throughout Europe, St. Nicholas has traditionally been the patron saint of children. This has been true in Austria, England, France, Germany and many other countries. Traditions developed about St.Nicolas and Christmas and many of these traditions varied from country to county. In Austria and Germany Nicolas is Klaus, thus he was St. Klaus. (Explaining why St. Nicolas was the inspiration or Santa Clause in America. Until World War I St. Nicolas was the primary Chrismas figure for French children. It was then Père Noël was introduced. Gradually Père Noël has become the major Christmas figure for French children, replacing St. Nicolas. We are not sure who was behind this shift. St. Nicolas is also the patron saint of choir boys. A French reader tells us as a choir boy in the 1950s he wore a medalion with the Virgin Mary. Other boys had a St. Nicolas medalion. French authorities during World war I began phasing St.Nicholas out of Christmas in France. This took some time to do and into the 1930s St. Nicolas still appeared on cards. Today in France, however, St. Nicolas is virtually unknown to children. A reader writes, "virtually unknown to children" is putting it too strongly in my opinion. The scouts of Riaumont, who are on HBU, for example, celebrate St. Nicholas every year.

Created: 8:53 AM 12/22/2005
Last updated: 9:15 PM 12/26/2005