The spirit of Saint Nicholas in Nancy
Saint Nicolas, patron saint of children and protector of Lorraine, is at the heart of Nancy's identity. The festivities now stretch over more than a month, from late November to early January, with illuminations transforming the city into a glittering decor. The grand fir tree, straight from the forests of the Vosges, proudly dominates Place Stanislas. All around, chalets, brass bands and gilded decorations plunge strollers into an atmosphere that's both traditional and fairytale-like. Museums, theaters, libraries and shopkeepers join in the festivities: exhibitions, readings, creative workshops and concerts punctuate these weeks of joyful anticipation. Nancy becomes an open stage for the magic of winter, a place where every street corner tells the story of a people attached to its roots and its patron saint.
The Great Saint Nicholas greets the crowd at the end of the parade / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: Jérôme Prod'homme
The great Saint Nicholas parade
The highlight of the Fêtes de Saint Nicolas is the grand parade on the first weekend in December. Dozens of floats parade through the streets of the center, accompanied by musicians, street theater troupes and articulated giants. Each edition has its own theme - art, dreams, fairy tales or nature - and gives rise to a veritable mise en scène. Saint Nicolas closes the parade, draped in his bishop's cloak and holding his golden crosier. At his side, Père Fouettard, a gruff but benevolent figure, watches over the younger children. Showers of confetti, fireworks and applause from the audience transform the town into a gigantic theater of light.
The 2024 parade / Photo Pierre Defontaine / ARTGE
The parade ends on the Place Stanislas, an 18thᵉ century jewel designed by Emmanuel Héré, where the mayor symbolically hands over the keys to the city to Saint Nicolas. This gesture, handed down from generation to generation, makes him Nancéiens' benevolent guardian for the winter. The ceremony is followed by a sound and light show and a fireworks display that sets the golden facades ablaze.
The Place Stanislas show: a tale in light
Every evening of the long weekend and throughout the holiday season, the place Stanislas becomes a giant screen. The facades of the Hôtel de Ville and pavilions come to life thanks to spectacular videomapping. The show tells the legend of Saint Nicholas, with music, visual effects and poetic narration. Windows open, angels cross pediments, statues seem to dance. This moment is free and open to all, a suspended moment when children go wide-eyed and adults let the magic of their childhood return. Snow sometimes mingles with the beams of light, and the whole of Nancy seems to hold its breath at the beauty of the place. It's this marriage of heritage and imagination that makes the Nancy festival so special: an ancient legend told on the stones of a UNESCO-listed royal complex.
The 2024 Parade/ Photo Pierre Defontaine ARTGE
Christmas hamlets: the gourmet heart of the festive season
Unlike other cities, Nancy isn't content with just one Christmas market. The entire city becomes a village of chalets, divided into several "Saint Nicolas hamlets", each with its own atmosphere.
- Le grand village gourmand place Charles III: this is the largest and liveliest. Here you'll find local produce, mulled wines, Vosges cheeses, pies, quiches, gingerbread and home-made sweets. The air smells of mirabelle plums, cinnamon and wood fires.
- The fairytale hamlet of Place de la Carrière: home to the Ferris wheel and family entertainment. The illuminations here are spectacular, especially in the evening when the walkways are covered in golden lights.
- The Place Vaudémont village, near Place Stanislas seduces with its natural ambience and light wooden chalets. It's a favorite place for families to stroll and enjoy a hot chocolate at dusk.
The hamlet of Saint Nicolas de la Place de la Carrière and its illuminated Ferris wheel / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: Pierre Defontaine ARTGE
There are other hamlets scattered throughout the town, yours to discover along with the decorated stores and festive illuminations. These various hamlets form the beating heart of the Fêtes de Saint Nicolas. It's a place for tasting, sharing and catching up with familiar faces. The atmosphere is both popular and refined, just like the town itself.
Specialities to enjoy during the Saint Nicholas festivities
In Nancy, sweet treats are part of the festivities. Pastry chefs and bakers vie with each other in creativity around traditional sweets. Le pain d'épices Saint Nicolas, often gilded, iced and bearing the saint's effigy, is a must. There are also mannalas (or mannelés), the little man-shaped brioches given to children.
For good kids candy, for good parents mulled wine! Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos.com
Confectioners offer chocolate subjects, Saint Nicolas in all sizes, in gingerbread, in red sugar, and of course bergamotes de Nancy, little sweets made with essence of bergamot, symbol of the city.
In the hamlets, you can enjoy tourtes lorraines, munster puff pastries, Vosges cheeses and the spicy mulled wine that perfumes the streets. Children, meanwhile, prefer hot apple juice with cinnamon. Oysters are even available!
The flavors of Saint Nicolas are those of Lorraine: generous, sweet, a little nostalgic. They tell as much about the holiday as the childhood memories it awakens.
The largest of the St Nicholas markets on Place Charles III / photo chosen by Monsieur de France: Pierre Defontaine ARTGE
Dates and times Saint Nicolas 2025
The arrival of the parade on Place Stanislas / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: Pierre Defontaine ARTGE
The Fêtes de Saint Nicolas 2025 à Nancy will take place from November 22, 2025 to January 4, 2026.
Opening of the St Nicolas markets on the 22nd;
The Great St Nicholas Weekend will take place on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December 2025.
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Saturday, December 6, 2025 :
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Grand parade from 18 h (rues Saint-Jean, vieille ville, place Stanislas).
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Remise des clés et spectacle son et lumière sur la place Stanislas vers 19 h 30, followed by fireworks.
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Tip : place yourself at the start of the procession, cours Léopold, or on the Place de la Carrière side.
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Sunday, December 7, 2025 :
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Family entertainment, workshops and storytelling from 10 am to 6 pm throughout the town center and hamlets.
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St Nicholas in his parade/ Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: Pierre Defontaines ARTGE
The complete legend of Saint Nicholas
illustration chosen by monsieurdefrance.Com: old image of Saint Nicolas
It's impossible to understand the Fêtes de Saint Nicolas in Nancy without knowing the founding legend that has moved the people of Lorraine for centuries. The story takes place "a long time ago", in a quiet countryside. Three little children, out gleaning in the fields, wander off at dusk. Tired and cold, they knock on a butcher's door to ask for hospitality.
The butcher lets them in, but the man hides a dark intention. Instead of offering them shelter, he kills them, cuts them up into pieces and puts them in a salt cellar, as was done in those days to preserve meat. Silence falls over the house, and no one sees the three children again.
Seven years passed. One evening, Saint Nicholas, passing by, knocks in turn on the butcher's door. The man, now pale, greets him trembling.
"Butcher, could you give me supper?" asks the saint.
The butcher then prepares him a dish, hoping to make amends. But Saint Nicholas, in a deep voice, interrupts him:
"Butcher, would you serve me some of that salty little thing that's been sleeping in your attic for seven years?"
The man breaks down, confesses his crime and begs forgiveness. St. Nicholas then climbs into the attic, places his hand on the salt cellar and prays at length. Suddenly, the miracle is accomplished: the lid opens, and the three children rise, safe and sound, as if awakening from a long sleep.
"The first said: I slept well, the second said: and so did I, the third added: I do believe I have awakened."
Since that day, Saint Nicolas has become the protector of children, but also the one who watches over homes, travelers and schoolchildren. In Lorraine, he is preceded by the butcher and the Père Fouettard, dark but essential figures as they remind children that goodness always triumphs over fault.
The symbolism of Saint Nicholas' festivities today
The parade is always a marvel of color and light / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: Pierre Defontaine ARGE
The Fêtes de Saint Nicolas are not just a show or folklore: they are the living memory of Lorraine. They are a reminder of generosity, solidarity and the warmth of sharing. When the mayor hands over the keys to the city to the saint, it's not just a ritual: it's a way of saying that Nancy is uniting around its values, that the city is becoming a great collective home, open and joyful.
The lights twinkling on Place Stanislas are not just decorative: they represent that flame of hope that spans the centuries. Through the parade, the shows, the treats, Nancy perpetuates a tradition that belongs to all Lorrains, believers or not, a moment of fraternity and shared beauty.
Things to remember before you come
- The Saint Nicolas parade takes place on the Saturday evening of the first weekend in December: it's the highlight of the festivities.
- The sound and light show on Place Stanislas can be seen all weekend long, often on the following days too.
- The Christmas hamlets are open from the end of November, every day until the first week of January.
- The entire city is pedestrianized during the big weekend: it's best to favor park-and-ride facilities and public transport.
- Finally, you have to look up: Nancy is appreciated as much by its lights as by its smiles.
The butcher is traditionally whistled by the public as he passes during the Saint Nicholas parade / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: Pierre Defontaines ARTGE
FAQ – How to prepare for your visit to the Fêtes de Saint Nicolas in Nancy
When do the Fêtes de Saint Nicolas take place in Nancy?
In 2025, they will take place from November 22, 2025, to January 4, 2026, with a big festive weekend on December 6 and 7, 2025.
Where does the big parade take place?
The parade crosses the city center of Nancy and ends at Place Stanislas, where Saint Nicholas receives the keys to the city and where a sound and light show is projected onto the City Hall.
Is there an admission fee for the show at Place Stanislas?
No, the show is free. It takes place several times during the big weekend and often on the following evenings at nightfall.
Is there a Christmas market in Nancy?
Yes, six Christmas hamlets are set up throughout the city
The jubilant crowds welcome Saint Nicolas to Nancy, in a warm, festive atmosphere celebrating Lorraine's December traditions. Photo Pierre Defontaines / ARTGE
How do I get to Nancy from abroad?
– By train: Direct TGV from Paris (1 hour 30 minutes).
– By plane: Metz-Nancy-Lorraine airport is 40 minutes away. / Luxembourg 1H30 / Paris 4H
– By car: Nancy is 75 miles from Strasbourg, 62 miles from Metz, and 56 miles from Épinal.
How much time should I allow?
A full weekend will allow you to see the parade, the show at Place Stanislas, the Christmas hamlets, and the illuminated old town.
Are there activities for children?
Yes, it's a family celebration: creative workshops, rides, storytelling, meetings with Saint Nicholas, and a parade specially designed for them.
What specialties should you try?
Saint Nicolas gingerbread, mannalas (small brioches), Nancy bergamotes, quiche Lorraine, hot pies, mulled wine, and spiced apple juice.
Should you book a hotel in advance?
Yes. Accommodations are in high demand for the big weekend in December. Book several weeks in advance, especially if you want to stay near Place Stanislas.
Are the Saint Nicolas celebrations similar to the Christmas markets in Alsace?
No, they're different: Nancy celebrates its patron saint with a parade, a show, and traditions unique to Lorraine. It's a more cultural and symbolic celebration, rooted in regional history.
Can you visit other nearby cities?
Yes, Metz, Épinal, and Saint-Nicolas-de-Port (a major center for the cult of Saint Nicholas) are easily accessible if you want to extend your stay.
Photo illustration / Pierre Defontaine ARTGE
