Foto: TraLala

Saint Nicholas is a traditional Christmas figure in several regions of Spain, especially in some areas of the Balearic Islands, such as Mallorca. It is a local variant of “Papá Noel “ or Santa Claus, although with a somewhat different connotation. Rather than being associated with the figure of a fat, jolly man dressed in red, Saint Nicholas in Mallorcan culture has a more austere appearance and is linked to Christmas and religious traditions.

Origin of Saint Nicholas

The name of Saint Nicholas comes from Saint Nicholas of Bari, a Christian saint from the 4th century, who is known for his generosity and for performing miracles. St. Nicholas is the forerunner of the modern Santa Claus figure in many cultures, but in Mallorca and other Mediterranean areas, he is specifically known as Papá Nicolás. In his tradition, Saint Nicholas visits children during Christmas, bringing them gifts and sweets, somewhat along the same lines as Santa Claus in other parts of the world.

Characteristics of Saint Nicholas

Unlike the international version of Santa Claus, which is associated with Christmas Eve (December 24), Saint Nicholas in some areas of Mallorca and other parts of Spain brings gifts mainly on the night of December 5-6, which is the feast of St. Nicholas, or on Christmas Eve. It is a figure of religious origin and, in many cases, is linked to the celebrations of St. Nicholas Week.

In Mallorca, some households follow the tradition of placing the shoes near a window or in a visible place so that Saint Nicholas leaves gifts or sweets for the children, something similar to what happens with the “Caga Tió” in Catalonia or the Olentzero in the Basque Country, Christmas figures that bring gifts.

Saint Nicholas in popular culture

The figure of Saint Nicholas is more associated with a religious celebration than with a character of commerce or entertainment as is the case with the modern Santa Claus. However, nowadays, some families in Mallorca combine the figure of Saint Nicholas with more globalized traditions, such as Santa Claus or the Three Wise Men, which are also very popular on the island.In short, Saint Nicholas in the Mallorcan tradition is an endearing Christmas figure that refers to the historical figure of Saint Nicholas and is similar to the figure of Santa Claus, although with a more local and religious approach.

May St. Nicholas bring you lots of presents! 🎅🎁