At a glance
Do your children dream of writing a letter or sending a drawing to Saint Nicholas? How do you go about it, and what's his address?
Do your children dream of writing a letter or sending a drawing to Saint Nicholas? How do you go about it, and what's his address?
How do you write to Saint Nicholas?
Saint Nicholas's feast day (6 December) is the perfect opportunity for children to ask their patron saint for gifts (see below) and promise to behave well. He even makes a special trip to meet children and hand out his gifts, right to their doorstep, on the night of 5 to 6 December.
His address?
Thanks to Bpost, we know the address where your children can send him their letter or drawing until 27 November. The mail doesn't need a stamp.
(Don't forget to include your own address, because Saint Nicholas always replies!)
Saint Nicholas
1 Paradise Street
0612 Heaven
Click here for the website.
Saint Nicholas
The historical figure...
Historians agree that Saint Nicholas was born around the year 270 AD in Asia Minor, in modern-day Turkey. Around the year 300, he became Bishop of Myra (Turkey). We don't know the year he died, but we do know the day: 6 December. In 1087, the Saint's relics were transferred to Bari, in Italy.
... and his legend
Since the 6th century, Saint Nicholas has earned a reputation, which quickly became legendary, as the protector of the weak and the persecuted (prisoners, prostitutes), as well as of children, merchants, boatmen, sailors…
On the one hand, he is credited with several miracles (e.g. calming storms, healing travellers, rescuing sailors or fishermen, protecting unhappy children), and on the other hand with a certain strictness towards those who stray "from the right path" (e.g. thieves) or those lacking discipline in their activities (merchants, sailors, ... but also certain schoolchildren!).
Over the centuries, Nicholas became very popular in our regions: many towns and villages have a place of worship dedicated to the saint, or even buildings or bridges placed under his protection. He remains famous and celebrated in many countries, from the southern Netherlands, Belgium and northern France to countries in Eastern Europe.
The name Nicholas and its variants are still very popular today.
In its Germanic form, Saint Nicholas became "Sankt Niklaus", "Santiglaus", … and eventually gave rise to "Santa Claus", the name given to Father Christmas in English-speaking countries.
Several legends exist about him, and many children's songs have become famous and been passed down from generation to generation. You'll easily find them with a quick search online.
Nowadays, Saint Nicholas is — among other things — the "patron saint of schoolchildren".
As such, he rewards "well-behaved, obedient children".
Cover photo: jan kranendonk / Shutterstock.com
