Saint Nicholas
Since the Middle Ages in Alsace, as in the rest of the Rhine basin, children have looked forward to the visit of Nikläus (Saint Nicholas) on December 6. The 4th-century bishop of Myre in Asia Minor is considered the patron saint of children, and his cult has been documented since the 11th century.
- Christmas culture and tradition
Saint Nicholas is widely venerated in Lorraine, the Rhine Valley, northern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Even today, it is customary for children to place their shoes by the door, along with some treats for the bishop and his donkey. The next morning, the shoes are overflowing with chocolates, mandarins, and Mannele.
These are brioche figures resembling little men, reminiscent of the three children whom the saint is said to have saved from the salting tub of the infamous butcher.
