On St. Nicholas Eve in December, children in Molfetta, a city on the Adriatic Sea, put a plate on the table with a letter asking for gifts and promising to be good in the coming year. During the night, San Nicola fills most of the requests and piles the plates with chocolates, candies, and other good things. It is a magical night for children; the surprises make a joyous morning for everyone.
San Niccolò comes on December 6th in Trieste. Children and adults celebrate the day; it is the primary day for gift-giving to children. Grandfathers dress up like the saint, giving presents or coal made of sugar if the children have been naughty. Trieste had strong trade relationships with Apulia and it is believed that St. Nicholas traditions were brought to the area from Bari.
Because Nicholas is the patron saint of young women wanting to be married, brides-to-be stream to the Basilica di San Nicola in Bari on the 6th of December, leaving a note to the saint, with three coins, in a special box.
In Provenzo Romano, the St. Nicholas Feast includes la Festa delle Zitelle — the feast of unmarried women. Single women between 18 and 34 receive a symbolic gift from the local council along with a wish for them to find a husband. The festival, as others in Lazio, also features fine food including new wine along with pancakes and bruschetta made with the year’s fresh olive oil.
In the village of Palazzo Adriano, Sicily, also, young Byzantine Catholic girls celebrate St. Nicholas’ feast day in a similar way. They wear traditional dress and sing special songs so that they may find husbands.
In some areas, particularly parts of Sicily, when a child loses a tooth, the tooth is concealed in a safe place such as inside a closet or drawer. After hiding the tooth, the child prays a special prayer to St. Nicholas, “Santu Nicola, Santu Nicola…”
Or else, after being under the pillow overnight, the tooth is thrown out over the rooftops, saying the same special prayer “San Nicola, iu ti dugnu a zappa vecchia, vui mi dati a zappa nova” (Saint Nicholas, I give you my old hoe [tooth] and ask that you give me a new one). Either way, the next day St. Nicholas will have exchanged the tooth for a present, usually money.
In southern Italy and Sicily there are areas that distribute Pani di S. Nicola or Pagnottelle di San Nicola, St. Nicholas loaves.
The custom is seemingly borrowed from the tradition of St. Nicholas of Tolentine, though it pertains to Nicholas of Myra. In Ganzirri fishermen believe the loaves can calm storms at sea.
So fishermen carry the loaves, after being blessed in the church, on their fishing vessels. When severe storms blow, they throw loaves into the water, firm in their faith they will be protected. St. Nicholas of Myra is sometimes shown with loaves, with or without the book of the Gospels.
The loaves recall the miracle of the grain that relieved famine in Myra.
About St. Nicholas
The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara in Asia Minor. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey.
His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus’ words to “sell what you own and give the money to the poor,” Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering.
He dedicated his life to serving God and was appointed Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.
Learn more at stnicholascenter.org.
