Lorraine, France

In Lorraine, Saint Nicholas is looked up to as the guardian of the province. As such, he is the special patron of its children, and his feast day, December 6th. This does not mean that Saint Nicholas neglects his annual visits to other parts of France. It is just that he feels more at home in Lorraine, and his own boys and girls make a great fuss over him. The saint always brings them candies and nuts if they are good.

In various parts of Lorraine, the saint walks through the streets on his anniversary. The children always cheer and clap at the sight of Saint Nicholas in his crimson bishop robes and pointed miter. However, in contrast, the children shrink back in fear from his inseparable companion, Pere Fouettard.

Le Pere carries a bundle of switches and has an uncomfortably long memory. He always seems to know which boys and girls were disobedient during the past twelve months. Now and then he playfully smacks some youngster's toes in passing but, guilty children fear the possibility of an actual whipping. Even worse, Le Pere may advise Saint Nicholas to pass them by when he makes his secret rounds at night.

On saint's eve, boys and girls of Lorraine place their shoes near the chimney. After singing a few songs to Saint Nicholas, the children go to bed. In the morning the shoes overflow with sweetmeats. But since Per Fouettard is always alert to naughtiness, even good children receive ribbon-tied burch twigs, along with gifts from the saint.