Saint Nicholas Festival of Nancy | Nancy
Celebration
Traditionally, Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6th, one of the most representative celebrations of the French winter festivals. The grandest and earliest Saint Nicholas Day celebration is held in Nancy, starting at the end of November and continuing throughout the Christmas season. In 2018, Nancy's Saint Nicholas Day was officially listed as a French National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Saint Nicholas Day first illuminates the entire city, seamlessly connecting with Christmas markets, continuing the New Year's atmosphere until January 4th of the following year. The highlight is the Saint Nicholas procession on December 6th, where Saint Nicholas appears in the streets with his old partner, the scourge priest.
Starting at 5:30 pm, a huge procession of floats departs from Place Carnot, accompanied by dance, acrobatics, and band performances, all the way to Place Stanislas. The most exciting part along the way is the candy-scattering; it's said that Nancy prepared four tons of candy this year, and everyone who sees it gets a share.